x

COVID-19: China grants ‘conditional’ market approval to Sinopharm vaccine

China has granted “conditional” market approval to a Sinopharm vaccine with a reported 79% efficacy rate against Covid-19, health authorities said Thursday.

This could signal a breakthrough in the battle to squash the pandemic in Asia and a major stride towards inoculating the world’s largest population.

Around 4.5 million Chinese, mainly health workers and workers destined for overseas jobs, have already been administered largely unproven emergency vaccines, according to authorities.

Deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration Chen Shifei, on Thursday said his agency had granted a “conditional listing” to Sinopharm’s vaccine.

A conditional listing helps hustle emergency drugs to market in cases when clinical trials are yet to meet normal standards but indicate they will work

“The known benefits of Sinopharm’s new inactivated coronavirus vaccine are bigger than the known and potential risks,” Mr. Chen added.

Vice Minister of the National Health Commission Zeng Yixin added that the listing allows the government to “extend vaccination to high-risk groups, those susceptible to a severe viral infection.

As a winter wave of virus infections batters much of the world, spurring fresh lockdowns and grim spikes in death tolls, attention has returned to China’s management of the pandemic.

China has broadly stamped out the virus inside its borders, introducing swift local lockdowns and mass testing when cases emerge.

China is forecast to be the only major economy to post positive growth this year.

But it has been heavily criticised for closing down discussion and reporting that questions the official narrative.

On Monday a Shanghai court jailed citizen journalist Zhang Zhan for four years for her reporting from Wuhan during the early months of the pandemic.

Hot this week

FCTA Drags 15 Persons to Court Over Illegal Construction at River Park Estate

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju As a sequel to the demolition of...

Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga Celebrates Gov. Mutfwang’s Ally Yari Kumchi on Birthday

By Israel Adamu, Jos Chairman of the North Central APC...

Kaduna ADC Stakeholders Petition Police Commission, Demand Probe of El-Rufai

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress...

Kaduna: Corpse of 3-Year-Old Flood Victim Recovered in Zaria

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna The body of a three-year-old girl,...

A’ibom moves to end epileptic electricity at Summit

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,,Uyo In a renewed move to end electricity...

WIELD-I to Protest Against NAFDAC Over Toxic Chemicals, Fake Drugs

…Calls for Removal of Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye The Women’s...

Calls for Reform Dominate Global Governance Initiative Seminar in Abuja

Nigerian and Chinese officials, scholars, and policymakers have called...

Senator Lalong Congratulates Plateau APC Woman Leader Alice Dimlong at 50

Senator Simon Bako Lalong, representing Plateau South Senatorial District...

Sokoto Govt Flags Off Food Distribution for Vulnerable Groups

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto The Sokoto State Government says it...

AIG Adenola Calls for Strong Police-Media Partnership in Bayelsa

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of...

NAPS Backs Kogi Poly on Fees Increment, Shelves Protest

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja The National Association of Polytechnic Students...

Only Traitors Wish For Nepal-Style Protest In Lagos, Says Group

The Defend Nigeria Movement (DNM) has joined in warning...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img