The World Health Organization(WHO) on Tuesday granted emergency authorisation to China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine.

Watch:

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The UN health body had last month&nbsp;granted emergency use authorisation to China's Sinopharm which is a two-dose vaccine.

"WHO today validated the Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use," the health body said.

The WHO had earlier given the green light for emergency authorisation to Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson including the AstraZeneca jab.

Sinopharm was the sixth vaccine to receive WHO validation for safety, efficacy and quality, according to the WHO. The Chinese vaccine is reportedly used in 42 countries including UAE, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, &nbsp;Algeria among others.

Emergency use listing allows countries to approve and import the vaccine for distribution in their own country and it can also become a part of the Covax global vaccine-sharing scheme.

Singapore's health minister Ong Ye Kung had said recently that the country could start using the &nbsp;Sinovac vaccine if it is approved by the WHO.

Thailand is also set to receive 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine next month.&nbsp;

In April, Europe's medicines watchdog the European Medicines Agency(EMA) had said it had started reviewing the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine for approval.

The vaccine contains inactivated form of the virus that cannot cause the disease and contains substances that strengths the immune system.

According to the EMA, after the Sinovac vaccine is administered to a person, the immune system identifies the inactivated virus as foreign and makes antibodies against it and recognises the active virus and defends the body against it.

China had approved the Sinovac vaccine in February.

(With inputs from Agencies)

<h1>&nbsp;</h1>

The World Health Organization(WHO) on Tuesday granted emergency authorisation to China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine. Watch: The UN health body had last month granted emergency use authorisation to China's Sinopharm which is a two-dose vaccine.

The World Health Organization(WHO) on Tuesday granted emergency authorisation to China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine. Watch: The UN health body had last month granted emergency use authorisation to China's Sinopharm which is a two-dose vaccine. "WHO today validated the Sinovac-CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use," the health body said. The WHO had earlier given the green light for emergency authorisation to Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson including the AstraZeneca jab. Sinopharm was the sixth vaccine to receive WHO validation for safety, efficacy and quality, according to the WHO. The Chinese vaccine is reportedly used in 42 countries including UAE, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Algeria among others. Emergency use listing allows countries to approve and import the vaccine for distribution in their own country and it can also become a part of the Covax global vaccine-sharing scheme. Singapore's health minister Ong Ye Kung had said recently that the country could start using the Sinovac vaccine if it is approved by the WHO. Thailand is also set to receive 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine next month. In April, Europe's medicines watchdog the European Medicines Agency(EMA) had said it had started reviewing the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine for approval. The vaccine contains inactivated form of the virus that cannot cause the disease and contains substances that strengths the immune system. According to the EMA, after the Sinovac vaccine is administered to a person, the immune system identifies the inactivated virus as foreign and makes antibodies against it and recognises the active virus and defends the body against it. China had approved the Sinovac vaccine in February. (With inputs from Agencies)

After Sinopharm, WHO grants emergency authorisation to China's Sinovac vaccine

China's drug authorities have given "conditional" market approval for a second Covid-19 vaccine, Sinovac's CoronaVac jab, the pharmaceutical company said Saturday.

The approval comes after multiple domestic and overseas&nbsp;trials of the vaccine in countries including Brazil and Turkey, although "efficacy and safety results need to be further confirmed", Sinovac said in a statement.

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The protection rate for 1,394 participants who received doses of either CoronaVac or placebo three weeks apart was nearly 70 per cent, a&nbsp;Sinovac&nbsp;spokesman said.

It marks the second COVID-19 vaccine green-lighted for public use in China after a shot developed by a Beijing institute affiliated to state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) was approved in December.

The approval is based on the two-month results from late-stage clinical trials overseas, from which the final analysis data has not yet been obtained,&nbsp;Sinovac&nbsp;said.

Prior to the approvals, both vaccines have already been used in China's vaccination program mainly targeting key groups deemed to be at higher risk of exposure to the virus.

While&nbsp;Sinovac's researchers had said early-stage trials showed a four-week interval induced the stronger antibody response than two weeks, this is the first time the company has released efficacy data from a Phase III trial with dosing patterns that differ from its trial protocol.

Sinovac&nbsp;has yet to release global results of its Phase III trials, but its COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in several countries, including Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey.

China's drug authorities have given "conditional" market approval for a second Covid-19 vaccine, Sinovac's CoronaVac jab, the pharmaceutical company said Saturday.

China's drug authorities have given "conditional" market approval for a second Covid-19 vaccine, Sinovac's CoronaVac jab, the pharmaceutical company said Saturday. The approval comes after multiple domestic and overseas trials of the vaccine in countries including Brazil and Turkey, although "efficacy and safety results need to be further confirmed", Sinovac said in a statement. The protection rate for 1,394 participants who received doses of either CoronaVac or placebo three weeks apart was nearly 70 per cent, a Sinovac spokesman said. It marks the second COVID-19 vaccine green-lighted for public use in China after a shot developed by a Beijing institute affiliated to state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) was approved in December. The approval is based on the two-month results from late-stage clinical trials overseas, from which the final analysis data has not yet been obtained, Sinovac said. Prior to the approvals, both vaccines have already been used in China's vaccination program mainly targeting key groups deemed to be at higher risk of exposure to the virus. While Sinovac's researchers had said early-stage trials showed a four-week interval induced the stronger antibody response than two weeks, this is the first time the company has released efficacy data from a Phase III trial with dosing patterns that differ from its trial protocol. Sinovac has yet to release global results of its Phase III trials, but its COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in several countries, including Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey.

China approves second domestic Covid-19 vaccine, Sinovac Biotech for general public use

President&nbsp;Jair&nbsp;Bolsonaro has said&nbsp;the end of the pandemic was in sight for Brazil, despite a worsening second wave of infections, with daily case numbers back to mid-August levels.

"We're at the tail end of the pandemic. Compared to other countries in the world, our government was the best, or one of the best, in handling it," the far-right president said on a visit to the southern city of Porto Alegre.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-and-his-non-normal-antics-314020">Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics</a>

Brazil has the world's second-deadliest outbreak of the novel coronavirus after the United States, with more than 178,000 deaths. The continent-sized country, with a population of 212 million, has registered 6.7 million confirmed cases.

The comment came in for criticism from his opponents in Brazil. The government's own figures lend little support to the president's assessment.

Brazil, which endured a brutal plateau of more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths a day from June to August, had succeeded in bringing its average daily death toll down to about 300 last month. However, that number has again risen above 800 this week.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/journalists-are-wimps-more-likely-to-die-of-coronavirus-says-brazils-bolsonaro-322872">Journalists are 'wimps'; more likely to die of coronavirus, says Brazil's Bolsonaro</a>

Intensive care units at public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro are meanwhile 100 percent full, and preparations for an eventual vaccination campaign have been caught up in a political battle between Bolsonaro and a likely adversary in the 2022 presidential race, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria.

Bolsonaro has been at odds with health experts over how to respond to the pandemic.

He has downplayed the new coronavirus as a "little flu," condemned the "hysteria" around it, and pushed to use the drug hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19, despite a raft of studies showing it is ineffective.

Political tensions

Doses of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a> made by China's Sinovac Biotech are rolling off a Brazilian production line, drawing interest around the country and across Latin America from governments struggling to procure costlier vaccines.

Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said at a news conference on Thursday (December 10) that the state's biomedical centre, the Butantan Institute, aims to fill and finish 1 million doses per day on its production line for a vaccination campaign to start Jan. 25.

Doria said 11 Brazilian states have contacted Butantan seeking the doses of the vaccine, called CoronaVac, setting up a showdown with President&nbsp;Jair&nbsp;Bolsonaro, who has said he refuses to buy the Chinese vaccine for a national immunization program.

At the same news conference, Butantan head Dimas Covas said several countries in the region, including Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay and Honduras are interested in buying the CoronaVac vaccine from Brazil. Butantan is in advanced talks with Argentina to the supply vaccine, he said.

Dimas said CoronaVac doses would cost $10.30 to Brazilian states and cities outside of Sao Paulo, a fraction of what U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies are charging for COVID-19 vaccines.

Butantan has begun to build a facility where it plans to produce the vaccine from scratch as of September 2021 instead of receiving it in bulk from China to fill and label vials.

Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello has said that vaccinations could begin in January. Pressure has been mounting, with state governors criticising the federal government as unprepared for a mass immunisation campaign and failing to secure a diverse enough supply of vaccines.

Pazuello repeated the ministry would buy any effective vaccines that are approved by health regulator Anvisa and reasonably priced, opening the door to a federal purchase of the Chinese vaccine.

President Jair Bolsonaro has said the end of the pandemic was in sight for Brazil, despite a worsening second wave of infections, with daily case numbers back to mid-August levels.

President Jair Bolsonaro has said the end of the pandemic was in sight for Brazil, despite a worsening second wave of infections, with daily case numbers back to mid-August levels. "We're at the tail end of the pandemic. Compared to other countries in the world, our government was the best, or one of the best, in handling it," the far-right president said on a visit to the southern city of Porto Alegre. Also see: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics Brazil has the world's second-deadliest outbreak of the novel coronavirus after the United States, with more than 178,000 deaths. The continent-sized country, with a population of 212 million, has registered 6.7 million confirmed cases. The comment came in for criticism from his opponents in Brazil. The government's own figures lend little support to the president's assessment. Brazil, which endured a brutal plateau of more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths a day from June to August, had succeeded in bringing its average daily death toll down to about 300 last month. However, that number has again risen above 800 this week. Also read: Journalists are 'wimps'; more likely to die of coronavirus, says Brazil's Bolsonaro Intensive care units at public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro are meanwhile 100 percent full, and preparations for an eventual vaccination campaign have been caught up in a political battle between Bolsonaro and a likely adversary in the 2022 presidential race, Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria. Bolsonaro has been at odds with health experts over how to respond to the pandemic. He has downplayed the new coronavirus as a "little flu," condemned the "hysteria" around it, and pushed to use the drug hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19, despite a raft of studies showing it is ineffective. Political tensions Doses of a COVID-19 vaccine made by China's Sinovac Biotech are rolling off a Brazilian production line, drawing interest around the country and across Latin America from governments struggling to procure costlier vaccines. Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria said at a news conference on Thursday (December 10) that the state's biomedical centre, the Butantan Institute, aims to fill and finish 1 million doses per day on its production line for a vaccination campaign to start Jan. 25. Doria said 11 Brazilian states have contacted Butantan seeking the doses of the vaccine, called CoronaVac, setting up a showdown with President Jair Bolsonaro, who has said he refuses to buy the Chinese vaccine for a national immunization program. At the same news conference, Butantan head Dimas Covas said several countries in the region, including Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay and Honduras are interested in buying the CoronaVac vaccine from Brazil. Butantan is in advanced talks with Argentina to the supply vaccine, he said. Dimas said CoronaVac doses would cost $10.30 to Brazilian states and cities outside of Sao Paulo, a fraction of what U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies are charging for COVID-19 vaccines. Butantan has begun to build a facility where it plans to produce the vaccine from scratch as of September 2021 instead of receiving it in bulk from China to fill and label vials. Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello has said that vaccinations could begin in January. Pressure has been mounting, with state governors criticising the federal government as unprepared for a mass immunisation campaign and failing to secure a diverse enough supply of vaccines. Pazuello repeated the ministry would buy any effective vaccines that are approved by health regulator Anvisa and reasonably priced, opening the door to a federal purchase of the Chinese vaccine.

Jair Bolsonaro says 'tail end' of pandemic in sight for Brazil

Bangladesh will not co-fund a late-stage domestic trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, the country's health minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday.

His comments come weeks after Sinovac asked the Bangladesh government to co-fund the domestic trials, which sources said would cost roughly $7 million.<o:p></o:p>

Bangladesh media quoted Health Minister Zahid Maleque as saying that Sinovac should run the trial with their own money because that's what they said they would do when they had sought approval.<o:p></o:p>

"(And) that's why they were given permission," he said.<o:p></o:p>

"A country's job is done when it approves the clinical test of a vaccine. They never asked for co-funding when they sought approval for the trial. This is not a contract we have with the Chinese government. This is a private company and we cannot have a co-funding (arrangement) with a private company."<o:p></o:p>

On the other hand, The Bangladesh government has closed the development of a deep-sea port at Sonadia Island off the country’s southeastern coast.<o:p></o:p>

With this, the high-profile project on the Bay of Bengal, which would have additionally improved China's monetary and key aspirations in the Indian Ocean locale, has been given a conventional internment.<o:p></o:p>

This is a geopolitical victory for India and its allies because Bangladesh will now build a deep-sea port. Not with the Chinese, but with the Japanese.<o:p></o:p>

In fact, the work has already begun, the deep-sea port will be constructed at Matarbari, which is 25 kilometers away from Sonadia. The port will be funded by Japan and it is expected to be completed by 2025.<o:p></o:p>

With this move, Bangladesh has shown that it won't be dictated by China. It will accept Chinese investment on its own terms and not expose itself to the debt trap this has been the pattern.<o:p></o:p>

China has moved aggressively to finance projects in Bangladesh and Dhaka has borrowed cautiously.<o:p></o:p>

Because Bangladesh doesn't want to meet the fate of Sri Lanka and Pakistan and also wants to avoid a diplomatic battle with New Delhi.<o:p></o:p>

China has been trying surround the Indian subcontinent with a network of ports. Bangladesh was a part of that plan. While India still needs to do more to neutralise the string of pearls threat.<o:p></o:p>

For now, it seems like Dhaka wants to avoid falling into China's sphere of influence.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>(With inputs from agencies)<o:p></o:p>

Bangladesh will not co-fund a late-stage domestic trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, the country's health minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday.

Bangladesh will not co-fund a late-stage domestic trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech, the country's health minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday. His comments come weeks after Sinovac asked the Bangladesh government to co-fund the domestic trials, which sources said would cost roughly $7 million. Bangladesh media quoted Health Minister Zahid Maleque as saying that Sinovac should run the trial with their own money because that's what they said they would do when they had sought approval. "(And) that's why they were given permission," he said. "A country's job is done when it approves the clinical test of a vaccine. They never asked for co-funding when they sought approval for the trial. This is not a contract we have with the Chinese government. This is a private company and we cannot have a co-funding (arrangement) with a private company." On the other hand, The Bangladesh government has closed the development of a deep-sea port at Sonadia Island off the country’s southeastern coast. With this, the high-profile project on the Bay of Bengal, which would have additionally improved China's monetary and key aspirations in the Indian Ocean locale, has been given a conventional internment. This is a geopolitical victory for India and its allies because Bangladesh will now build a deep-sea port. Not with the Chinese, but with the Japanese. In fact, the work has already begun, the deep-sea port will be constructed at Matarbari, which is 25 kilometers away from Sonadia. The port will be funded by Japan and it is expected to be completed by 2025. With this move, Bangladesh has shown that it won't be dictated by China. It will accept Chinese investment on its own terms and not expose itself to the debt trap this has been the pattern. China has moved aggressively to finance projects in Bangladesh and Dhaka has borrowed cautiously. Because Bangladesh doesn't want to meet the fate of Sri Lanka and Pakistan and also wants to avoid a diplomatic battle with New Delhi. China has been trying surround the Indian subcontinent with a network of ports. Bangladesh was a part of that plan. While India still needs to do more to neutralise the string of pearls threat. For now, it seems like Dhaka wants to avoid falling into China's sphere of influence. (With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh wants to avoid falling into Beijing's sphere of influence

Bangladesh`s Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday.

The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus.

SII has partnered with AstraZeneca, the Gates Foundation and the Gavi vaccine alliance to produce more than a billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for global supply.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-delhi-records-highest-single-day-cases-in-august-death-toll-rises-to-over-4400-323981">Also read|&nbsp;COVID-19: Delhi records highest single-day cases in August; death toll rises to over 4,400</a>

"The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals, SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis," Beximco said in a statement.

It did not give details about the size of the investment in SII nor how many vaccines Beximco might receive.

"This landmark agreement reflects the deep-rooted desire for collaboration between the two countries and as representatives of the two nations, between us we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," the heads of both companies said in the statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-has-one-of-lowest-global-covid-19-fatality-rates-029-cases-on-ventilators-harsh-vardhan-323962">Also read|&nbsp;India has one of lowest global COVID-19 fatality rates, 0.29% cases on ventilators: Harsh Vardhan</a>

It said Beximco would be the exclusive supplier in Bangladesh for the vaccine being developed by SII and that the Bangladeshi company would discuss with the government the number of doses it wants. Beximco will also secure additional doses to be distributed to the private pay market in Bangladesh.

The Serum Institute is the world`s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. It is holding trials for three potential coronavirus vaccines, including one licensed to AstraZeneca by Oxford University.

Bangladesh has also approved a late-stage trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China`s Sinovac Biotech Ltd in the hope of being a priority recipient for the jab.

Bangladesh confirmed 47 more deaths and reported 2,211 new cases on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 306,794 with 4,174 deaths.

India reported a record daily jump of 77,266 coronavirus infections on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 3.39 million with 61,529 deaths.

Bangladesh`s Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday.

Bangladesh`s Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday. The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus. SII has partnered with AstraZeneca, the Gates Foundation and the Gavi vaccine alliance to produce more than a billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for global supply. Also read| COVID-19: Delhi records highest single-day cases in August; death toll rises to over 4,400 "The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals, SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis," Beximco said in a statement. It did not give details about the size of the investment in SII nor how many vaccines Beximco might receive. "This landmark agreement reflects the deep-rooted desire for collaboration between the two countries and as representatives of the two nations, between us we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," the heads of both companies said in the statement. Also read| India has one of lowest global COVID-19 fatality rates, 0.29% cases on ventilators: Harsh Vardhan It said Beximco would be the exclusive supplier in Bangladesh for the vaccine being developed by SII and that the Bangladeshi company would discuss with the government the number of doses it wants. Beximco will also secure additional doses to be distributed to the private pay market in Bangladesh. The Serum Institute is the world`s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. It is holding trials for three potential coronavirus vaccines, including one licensed to AstraZeneca by Oxford University. Bangladesh has also approved a late-stage trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China`s Sinovac Biotech Ltd in the hope of being a priority recipient for the jab. Bangladesh confirmed 47 more deaths and reported 2,211 new cases on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 306,794 with 4,174 deaths. India reported a record daily jump of 77,266 coronavirus infections on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 3.39 million with 61,529 deaths.

Bangladesh's Beximco signs COVID-19 vaccine deal with India's Serum Institute