The World Health Organization on Tuesday approved the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use — the second Chinese jab to receive the WHO’s green light.
“WHO today validated the Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, giving countries, funders, procuring agencies and communities the assurance that it meets international standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing,” the UN health agency said in a statement.
WHO’s listing paves the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve and import a vaccine for distribution, especially those states without an international-standard regulator of their own. It also opens the door for the jabs to enter the Covax global vaccine-sharing scheme, which aims to provide equitable access to doses around the world, particularly in poorer countries. Currently only AstraZeneca and some Pfizer jabs are flowing through the scheme.
“The world desperately needs multiple Covid-19 vaccines to address the huge access inequity across the globe,” said Mariangela Simao, the WHO’s assistant director general for access to health products. “We urge manufacturers to participate in the Covax facility, share their know-how and data and contribute to bringing the pandemic under control.”
The Sinovac jab is already in use in 22 territories around the world, according to an AFP count. Apart from China, the countries using Sinovac include Chile, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey. The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation have reviewed the jab and published their advice on its usage. “WHO recommends the vaccine for use in adults 18 years and older, in a two-dose schedule with a spacing of two to four weeks,” the agency said.
“Vaccine efficacy results showed that the vaccine prevented symptomatic disease in 51 percent of those vaccinated and prevented severe Covid-19 and hospitalisation in 100 percent of the studied population.”
Pakistani vaccine
Locally developed coronavirus vaccine PakVac to be available for use from today onwards.
As per the reports, Ministry of Health will give directives to use the locally developed coronavirus vaccine PakVac for people above 18 years of age.
It is to note that PakVac vaccine has been manufactured by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with China’s Cansino Bio. The vaccine has been finalised and approved for use after careful quality control checks.
According to sources, the vaccines have been prepared at the National Institute of Health. Initially, a total of three million doses of PakVac have been prepared.
