IPOH, Jan 26 (Sin Chew Daily) — More than 2,600 volunteers involved in the clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine developed by China have been notified by the Institute of Medical Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (IMBCAMS) of the early termination of the trials.

MCA National Public Service and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Low Guo Nan, who is also one of the volunteers, said IMBCAMS cited the reasons for the early termination of clinical trials due to the introduction of vaccine booster shots and potential risk of Omicron to the volunteers.

Hence, volunteers participating in the clinical trials will be unblinded, a process where the volunteers will be individually informed whether they have received the vaccine or placebo.

In a statement, Low said nine hospitals involved in the clinical trials would be making appointments to meet the volunteers respectively to unblind.

“The volunteers will be notified whether they have received two vaccine injections and a booster shot or two vaccine injections and a placebo as booster shot,” he said.

Low met with the doctor in charge of the clinical trial at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun on January 24.

He was given two vaccination shots and a placebo as booster shot.

“The clinical trial is scheduled to complete by the end of this year. There are two more appointments left for follow-up,” he said.

He took the booster shot on January 25.