CanSinoBIO is the fourth vaccine authorized by Pakistan
Pakistan has approved China’s CanSino Biologics Inc’s (CanSinoBIO) COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, Health Minister Faisal Sultan has confirmed.
This is the fourth vaccine to be approved by Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) after China’s Sinopharm, AstraZeneca and Russia’s Sputnik V received the authorization.
Dr Faisal Sultan earlier said that Pakistan would receive the CanSinoBIO vaccine doses “in the range of tens of millions” after the formal approval.
CanSinoBIO facts
- CanSinoBIO vaccine showed 75% efficacy in preventing symptomatic cases and 100% successful in stopping severe disease among Pakistanis.
- CanSino is currently one of the only two one-dose vaccines in the world to release its phase III data. The other one is Johnson & Johnson which is 66 per cent effective.
- Pakistan is the second country to approve CanSinoBio after Mexico.
Pakistan’s vaccination drive
Pakistan began vaccinating its healthcare workers after launching the coronavirus vaccination drive on February 3. At least 27,000 health workers have been vaccinated all across the country.
Read more: How to register for COVID-19 vaccination in Pakistan?