China's Health Minister be the 1st person receiving A/H1N1 flu trial vaccine

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Health Ministry announced Wednesday initial clinical tests on the country's A/H1N1 flu vaccines proved the drug to be "safe and reliable" for human use, as test volunteers readied themselves for a second round of inoculation.

No cases of severe adverse drug reactions had been reported among more than 13,300 volunteers who took part in clinical trials of vaccines developed by 10 Chinese pharmaceutical companies, said a statement from the ministry.

China's Health Minister Chen Zhu receives his second inoculation  of the country's A/H1N1 flu vaccine. Chen received the first shot  in China on July 22.(Photo Source: moh.gov.cn)

In a demonstration of confidence in the drugs, Health Minister Chen Zhu took the lead Wednesday afternoon by receiving his second inoculation of the vaccine. Chen received the first such shot in China on July 22.

The other volunteers will receive their second vaccinations from later Wednesday, 21 days after their first shot.