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China's Sinopharm says vaccine '79% effective' against COVID-19

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/12/15/20201213-sinopharm.jpg"/><figcaption>A sign of Sinopharm is seen at the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 5, 2020. <em>Tingshu Wang, Reuters/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BEIJING <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> - Phase 3 trials of a Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine found it was 79 percent effective, the Chinese pharma giant said Wednesday, lower than rival jabs developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna but a potential breakthrough in the battle to stem the pandemic in Asia.</p><p>China has been racing against the West to develop its own COVID-19 vaccines, with 5 already in large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials.</p><p>But Wednesday&#x27;s announcement was the first data released regarding the efficacy of a Chinese vaccine candidate.</p><p>&quot;The protective effect of the (Sinopharm CNBG Beijing) vaccine against COVID-19 is 79.34 percent,&quot; said the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a Sinopharm subsidiary.</p><p>Sinopharm has applied to China&#x27;s drug regulator for approval of the inactivated coronavirus vaccine, the statement said, a type of inoculation using particles of the pathogen.</p><p>But China has struggled to gain international trust for its vaccine candidates, hindered by a lack of transparency on test results.</p><p>It has also been slow to complete Phase 3 trials, which had to be conducted abroad due to China&#x27;s success at curbing the spread of COVID-19 within its own borders.</p><p>Chinese officials have repeatedly assured the public of the vaccines&#x27; safety, claiming that there have been no serious adverse reactions.</p><p>More than 1 million people have already been vaccinated with unapproved vaccines in China under its emergency use program, including frontline health workers, state-owned enterprise employees and workers planning to travel abroad.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/09/20/uae-says-sinopharm-vaccine-has-86-efficacy-against-covid-19">UAE says Sinopharm vaccine has 86% efficacy against COVID-19</a></li></ul><p>The United Arab Emirates approved a Sinopharm vaccine earlier this month, becoming the first foreign country to approve a China-developed COVID-19 vaccine. It said the vaccine was 86 percent effective, according to interim results of a Phase 3 trial.</p><p>Beijing has pledged to share the vaccine at a fair cost -- a potential boost for poorer Asian countries who are otherwise reliant on limited distribution offered by the COVAX scheme.</p><p>&quot;China has made the firm commitment that after China&#x27;s new coronavirus vaccines are completed and put into use, they will serve as a global public product and be supplied to the world at a fair and reasonable price,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Friday.</p><p>&quot;We will also give priority to developing countries for vaccines. This will be made through a variety of ways, including through donations and aid.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OrlteOQH4es?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div class="iwantbar"> </div>

<p>Phase 3 trials of a Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine found it was 79 percent effective, the Chinese pharma giant said Wednesday, lower than rival jabs developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna but a potential breakthrough in the battle to stem the pandemic in Asia.</p>

Phase 3 trials of a Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine found it was 79 percent effective, the Chinese pharma giant said Wednesday, lower than rival jabs developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna but a potential breakthrough in the battle to stem the pandemic in Asia.