This archive report was first published on 9 May 2021.
On May 7, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine had been validated for emergency use.
This milestone marks the first time a Chinese vaccine has been officially recognized by the WHO, paving the way for the vaccine to play a greater role in helping defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the sixth vaccine to be approved for emergency use globally, Sinopharm's vaccine is also the first COVID-19 vaccine developed by a developing country to receive WHO validation.
According to Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director general for access to health products, the vaccine's efficacy for symptomatic and hospitalized disease was estimated to be 79 percent for all age groups combined.
"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," she said.
The Sinopharm vaccine features a vial monitor, a small sticker on the vaccine vials that changes color when exposed to heat, indicating whether the vaccine can be safely used.
With its accessibility and affordability, the Sinopharm vaccine offers countries more choices in the fight against COVID-19, helping to bridge the vaccine divide.
