BBC News reported on Monday that an experimental COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use by the Chinese military.

The Ad5-nCoV vaccine is one of 150 being investigated around the world to see if immunisation can protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic virus by teaching the body to recognise and fight off the disease.

Reportedly, this particular vaccine, developed by Can Sino Biologics and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology in the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, was the first one to enter a clinical trial with human volunteers.

The Lancet medical journal had reported in late May 2020 that the study, involving 108 adults, found the vaccine was safe and appeared to generate a response by the body's immune system.

According to the BBC, it's unclear whether this means people who get the vaccine will then have immunity against COVID-19.

Currently, no vaccine has yet been approved for widespread commercial use against COVID-19.