Second vaccine deemed safe, Sinopharm says

BEIJING/BRASILIA: The second vaccine developed by Sinopharm has been found to be safe and able to generate high concentrations of antibodies among participants in phase I and II clinical trials, according to a Weibo posting by Sinopharm Group on Sunday.

Participants who got two shots at either three- or four-week intervals have generated neutralising antibodies, a measurement of the vaccine’s ability to stimulate specific immune response to the coronavirus.

The vaccine is jointly developed by Sinopharm’s Beijing research institute and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

BRAZIL SET TO PRODUCE VACCINE FROM OXFORD

The Brazilian government has announced an agreement with Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to produce a promising coronavirus vaccine that is undergoing tests.

Brazilian health ministry authorities said at a news conference on Saturday that the country will pay $127 million and receive material to produce 30.4 mn doses in two batches in December and January, which would allow it to quickly start inoculation efforts if the vaccine is certified to be safe and effective.

They said the total deal is for 100mn vaccines for a country of about 210 million residents. It will be produced by local vaccine maker Fiocruz. Vijay Rangarajan, the British ambassador, said on Twitter that “the 30mn doses will be available in Brazil” and Fiocruz will “prepare for local production.”