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Singapore's first Chinese COVID-19 vaccines arrive ahead of approval

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/02/25/health-coronavirus-thailand-vaccines.jpg"/><figcaption>Vials of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine are pictured at Bangkok&#x27;s Suvarnabhumi International Airport before the arrival of a shipment of 200,000 doses from China, in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 24, 2021. <em>Athit Perawongmetha, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>SINGAPORE - Singapore on Tuesday received its first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine made by China&#x27;s Sinovac Biotech, its health ministry said, although the shot is still awaiting approval for use in the city-state.</p><p>Sinovac has started submitting initial data but the Health Sciences Authority is currently awaiting all the necessary information to carry out a thorough assessment, the ministry said in a statement late on Wednesday.</p><p>Singapore is the only wealthy country considering the use of Sinovac&#x27;s vaccine, which has been found to have an efficacy rate ranging from about 50 to 90 percent in studies.</p><p>The city-state have been rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination program over the last 2 months. It has approved shots from Pfizer-BioNTech, and Moderna.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/30/20/singapore-begins-rollout-of-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-with-healthcare-workers">Singapore begins rollout of Pfizer&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine with healthcare workers</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/08/21/singapore-pm-receives-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine">Singapore PM receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/03/21/singapore-approves-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-in-asia-first">Singapore approves Moderna&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine in Asia first</a></li></ul><p>The government has previously declined to give specific details on the deals struck with vaccine makers.</p><p>As an island nation heavily dependent on travel and trade, the Singapore government is keen to boost its economy with the help of the vaccine. Singapore is aiming to vaccinate its entire population of nearly 6 million people by the end of 2021.</p><p>Singapore has been reporting very few new local coronavirus cases over the last few months.</p><p>Since the start of the outbreak, it has recorded a total of nearly 60,000 infections, most of which occurred in crowded foreign worker dormitories. Only 29 people have died from the disease in Singapore, according to its health ministry.</p><p>China, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand are among the countries that have approved the Sinovac vaccine.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/19/21/worlds-first-business-travel-exchange-amid-pandemic-opens-in-singapore">&#x27;World&#x27;s first business travel exchange&#x27; amid pandemic opens in Singapore</a></li></ul><div><strong> RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WupUTUI33Dk?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>

<p>Singapore is the only wealthy country considering the use of Sinovac's vaccine, which has been found to have an efficacy rate ranging from about 50 to 90 percent in studies.</p>

Singapore is the only wealthy country considering the use of Sinovac's vaccine, which has been found to have an efficacy rate ranging from about 50 to 90 percent in studies.