The Defense Ministry announces that the first human trials of its coronavirus vaccine will begin next Sunday and continue through next spring before it can receive approval for full use.

The Institute for Biological Research will begin the first phase of the testing process with two initial participants, increasing to 80 over the month of November.

If they respond well to the vaccine — developing antibodies against the virus — the testing will expand to 960 people beginning in December.

If that larger group responds well to the vaccine, injections will then be given to some 30,000 people in April or May 2021. If the vaccine works well and there are no significant side effects, it will then be approved for full use in the general population.

“This is a day of hope for the citizens of Israel… Just two months ago I was presented with the first bottle of the vaccine. Today we already have 25,000 vaccine doses and are starting the next phase of the test,” says Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Source: Judah Ari Gross – TOI