The Chinese city of Shanghai started administering an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine on Oct. 26, in what appears to be a world first.

A document on company letterhead entitled ``Vaccination Statement'' said 48 Chinese employees ``have been vaccinated with SARS-COV-2 vaccine'' on Aug. 10.

China is forging ahead in the race to develop a vaccine to help control the COVID-19 pandemic, with Sinovac Biotech's experimental vaccine set to become the country's second and the world's third to enter final stage testing later this month.