FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured on the headquarters of the World Health Orgnaization (WHO) ahead of a meeting of the Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Geneva, Switzerland, January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
ZURICH鈥擲afety of a prospective vaccine for COVID-19 comes 鈥渇irst and foremost,鈥� the World Health Organization鈥檚 chief scientist said on Wednesday, as a trial of a candidate from AstraZeneca was paused, at least temporarily, due to concerns over side effects.
鈥淛ust because we talk about speed鈥t doesn鈥檛 mean we start compromising or cutting corners on what would normally be assessed,鈥� Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said on a social media event. 鈥淭he process still has to follow through rules of the game. For drugs and vaccines which are given to people, you have to test their safety, first and foremost.鈥�
WHO officials did not immediately respond directly to questions from Reuters over the move by AstraZeneca to pause global trials, including large late-stage trials, of its experimental coronavirus vaccine due to an unexplained illness in a study participant.