Made in Italy vaccine test, "spring production" starts

(ANSA) - ROME, AUGUST 24 - With the first dose injected shortly after 8, the experimentation on humans of the 'made in Italy' vaccine against Covid-19 began today at the Spallanzani in Rome. It will be tested in the first phase on 90 volunteers selected from over seven thousand candidates who have given their availability.
   The first to receive the vaccine was a woman of about 50 years. "I am excited and proud. I hope I can be useful to our people" she said this morning to those who had the opportunity to dismiss her for a few moments. The next two volunteers will be vaccinated on Wednesday. "If everything happens on schedule, our hope is that it will be produced in the spring," explained Vaia. The vaccine is entirely Italian and was born thanks to a protocol signed in March between the president of the Lazio Region, Nicola Zingaretti, the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, the Minister of University and Scientific Research, Gaetano Manfredi, the National Research Council and the IRCCS Spallanzani. For the realization of this objective, 8 million euros have been allocated, 5 million to be paid by the Lazio Region, transferred to Spallanzani and 3 million by the Ministry of University and Scientific Research. It is made, produced and patented by the Italian biotechnology company ReiThera of Castel Romano. "Our country's intelligence and research are at the service of the world challenge to defeat Covid" commented Health Minister Roberto Speranza. The "Italian vaccine will be public and available to all those who need it", Zingaretti underlined. (HANDLE).