The World Health Organization (WHO) backed a campaign in China in July to vaccinate some people against the coronavirus while clinical trials were still pending, a Chinese health official said on Friday, although some experts questioned the move. What is the concern?
According to the National Health Commission,
official Zheng Zhongwei, China launched its emergency program in July,
negotiating with the WHO in late June.
The vaccine has been given’ to millions of
essential workers and other limited groups who are considered at high risk of
infection, although its efficacy and safety have not been fully established as
Phase 3 clinical trials were incomplete, causing concern among experts. Is’
found.
"At the end of June, the State
Council of China approved a plan for the emergency use of the vaccine 19,"
Zheng told a news conference.
"Following the approval, on June 29,
we discussed with the relevant representatives of the WHO office in China, and
obtained cooperation and understanding from the WHO," Zheng said.
During a news conference in Geneva on
Friday, WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Mariangela SImano said that
countries have the sovereignty to issue emergency use permits for any health
product in accordance with national rules and regulations. ۔
WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said
earlier this month that emergency use of the corona virus vaccine was a
"temporary solution", and that a long-term solution was being
completed’ in Phase 3 trials.
Beijing has not released full details of
its emergency use program.
At least three vaccine candidates,
including two from the government-sponsored China National Biotech Group (CNBG)
and one from Sinovac Biotech, all involved in Phase 3 trials abroad, are
included in the emergency use program. Has been
A fourth experimental vaccine developed by
CanSino Biologics was approved’ for use in the Chinese military in June.
Zheng said China's annual production the capacity of COVID-19 vaccines is expected’ to reach 610 million doses by the
end of 2020 and 1 billion doses by 2021.
Zheng added that in China, the cost of the
vaccine would be cheaper for the general public.
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