WHO approves Sinopharm vaccine

Last Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the emergency use of a coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s state-owned Sinopharm Company. This is the first time WHO has approved a vaccine developed outside of the West.

Prior to Sinopharm, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna were approved by WHO. The increase in Sinopharm vaccines in the COVAX program, which aims to ensure equal access to vaccines worldwide, could increase supply to low and middle-income countries and speed up the immunization process, vaccine procedures highlighted.

WHO has approved the use of the Sinopharm vaccine for immunization in people 18 years of age and older. WHO is currently studying and evaluating the production standards and immunization capabilities of another Chinese vaccine by Sinovak.

To date, 65 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine have been used worldwide for immunization. WHO estimates that the vaccine has immunization potential of 79 percent. In addition, the Sinopharm vaccine has the advantage of being stored in a conventional refrigerator at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.