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Beijing – China on Thursday authorized its first local general-use COVID-19 vaccine, adding another vaccine that could be widely used in poorer countries as the virus reappears around the world.
Sinopharm vaccine had previously been given to groups such as healthcare professionals and essential workers under emergency use guidelines as part of China’s program to vaccinate 50 million people ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in February. But the green light should allow it to be supplied more widely in the country and bring Beijing closer to the possibility of shipping it abroad. It comes a day later Authorized UK regulators AstraZeneca’s inexpensive and easy-to-handle vaccine.
Both shots were closely watched by developing countries, many of which were unable to get the doses of Pfizer and Moderna bought by rich countries. Pakistan’s science minister said Thursday that his government would buy 1.2 million doses of a Sinopharm vaccine, two days after its death toll surpassed 10,000.
The green light came a day after the state-owned company announced that preliminary data from last-stage testing showed it to be 79.3% effective. The announcement did not detail the size of the control group, the number of people vaccinated and how effective the rate of effectiveness was after the injection, and experts cautioned that data from the trials should be shared.
Officials said the vaccine standards were developed in “close cooperation” with the World Health Organization. Obtaining the so-called WHO prequalification could go some way in assuring the rest of the world of the quality of Chinese vaccines, which already face a reputation problem at home. It would also pave the way for vaccine distribution in the global vaccine consortium, COVAX, and potentially in countries that do not have their own regulatory agencies.
China is eager to ship its vaccines around the world, driven by the desire to repair damage to its image caused by the pandemic that began a year ago in the central city of Wuhan.
Technically, China has granted conditional approval for the vaccine, which means research is still ongoing, and the company will be required to submit follow-up data as well as reports on any adverse reactions after the vaccine is sold on the. market, Chen Shifei, deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, said at a press conference. The final proof of its effectiveness will depend on the publication of more data.
Sinopharm, which has another stunt in development, is one of at least five Chinese developers in a global race to create vaccines against the disease that has killed more than 1.8 million people. While the Pfizer and Moderna plans have been greeted with much fanfare in the West, these plans must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures or in the freezer, making distribution difficult.
The Sinopharm vaccine, like that of AstraZeneca, might be easier to handle for countries around the world because it can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures.
The two shots, along with the Russian Sputnik, are expected to supply much of the developing world. This means that the cost will be significant as well. AstraZeneca is expected to cost around $ 2.50 a dose, while Russia has said its doses will be priced at $ 10 for the global market. Pfizer’s vaccine costs around $ 20, while Moderna’s is $ 15 to $ 25, based on agreements with the U.S. government.
Chinese officials have declined to name a particular award and have made conflicting statements about it. One official said it would be affordable for the Chinese public, but another stepped in to clarify that it would be free. President Xi Jinping had previously promised to donate a vaccine made in China as a public good to the world.
The Sinopharm shot is already in mass production, although officials have not answered questions about the current capacity. It has already been approved in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and is expected to be used in Morocco soon.
Other countries have also purchased doses of another Chinese vaccine candidate, manufactured by Sinovac Biotech. Turkey received shipments of 3 million doses this week, and Indonesia and Brazil also bought it.
Belarus and Argentina launched mass vaccinations on Wednesday using Russia’s vaccine, and Guinea has started giving it to government officials.
In addition to emergency vaccinations already underway in China, the country plans to start vaccinating high-risk populations, such as the elderly as well as people with existing chronic diseases. Officials did not say what percentage of the population they would vaccinate in China.
“It’s very exciting that there is another vaccine and one that can be distributed to places that don’t have a cold chain,” said Ashley St. John, immunologist at Duke-NUS Medical School at Singapore. “But at the same time, we have to temper the excitement. We have to understand the long-term efficacy, the effect on transmission and the effect on serious diseases.”
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