WHO approves Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use in all countries
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use in all countries, giving the green light for this vaccine to be rolled out globally, including in Georgia.
WHO today listed the Sinopharm #COVID19 vaccine for emergency use in all countries, a prerequisite for a potential #COVAX roll-out. Interim policy recommendations were also issued for the vaccine usage.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 7, 2021
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The Sinopharm is an inactivated vaccine called SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd, subsidiary of China National Biotec Group (CNBG).
The addition of this vaccine has the potential to rapidly accelerate COVID-19 vaccine access for countries seeking to protect health workers and populations at risk,” Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Health Products said.
We urge the manufacturer to participate in the COVAX Facility and contribute to the goal of more equitable vaccine distribution", he added.
WHO recommends the vaccine for adults 18 years and older, in a two-dose schedule with a spacing of three to four weeks. Vaccine efficacy for symptomatic and hospitalised disease was estimated to be 79%, all age groups combined.
The emergency use listing procedure assesses the quality, safety & efficacy of #COVID19 vaccines, as well as risk management plans & programmatic suitability, such as cold chain requirements. For the Sinopharm vaccine, on-site inspections of the production facility were conducted pic.twitter.com/p7eM9wHZ8a
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 7, 2021
Georgia received the first 100,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine on April 3, while Sinopharm vaccination started a month later on May 4 a couple of days before it received WHO's green light.
Vaccination is currently underway with Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines in all regions of Georgia. However, those eligible for vaccination should visit booking.moh.gov.ge or call 15 22 to get registered.
Meanwhile, Georgia is expecting to receive additional 100,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine from Georgia Red Cross with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent societies and The Red Cross Society of China.