Jerusalem:Israel began human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine, Hadassah and Sheba Medical Centers said.
In Sheba hospital, located in central Israel, a 26-year-old business student was injected with the novel "BriLife" vaccine created by the Israeli Institute of Biological Research (IIBR), according to media reports on Sunday.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited Sheba hospital on Sunday, said that "the true exit from the coronavirus crisis is in the development of vaccines. Therefore, this is a very important day, which gives a shot of encouragement."
At the same time, another 34-year-old volunteer was vaccinated at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
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This month, about 80 more volunteers will be vaccinated at the two hospitals, with half receiving a vaccine and the others receiving a placebo vaccine.