China approves Sinovac Biotech COVID vaccine for general use

China’s medical products regulator has approved Sinovac Biotech COVID vaccine for use by the general public, Report informs referring to Reuters.

It marks the second COVID-19 vaccine green-lighted for public use in China after a shot developed by a Beijing institute affiliated to the state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) was approved in December.

Before the approvals, both vaccines have already been used in China’s vaccination program, mainly targeting key groups deemed to be at higher risk of exposure to the virus.

Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Laos have granted emergency authorizations for the CoronaVac vaccine developed by Sinovac Life Sciences.

The approval is based on the two-month results from late-stage clinical trials overseas, from which the final analysis data has not yet been obtained.