Sinovac is the second Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by WHO after Siopharm
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use — the second Chinese jab to receive the WHO’s green light.
Sinovac is one of three Chinese vaccines approved by Pakistan and is currently being administered across the country.
“The world desperately needs multiple COVID-19 vaccines to address the huge access inequity across the globe,” said Mariangela Simao, the WHO’s assistant director-general, for access to health products.
“We urge manufacturers to participate in the COVAX facility, share their know-how and data and contribute to bringing the pandemic under control.”
Sinovac’s approval opens the door for the jabs to enter the COVAX global vaccine-sharing scheme, which aims to provide equitable access to doses around the world, particularly in poorer countries. Currently only AstraZeneca and some Pfizer jabs are flowing through the scheme.
The Sinovac jab is already in use in 22 territories around the world including Turkey, Chile, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and Thailand.
WHO approved vaccines
- Pfizer/BioNTech
- AstraZeneca
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
- Sinopharm
- Sinovac