The World Health Organization Approves New Vaccine ‘CoronaVac’ For Emergency Use

The World Health Organization has approved a new Coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. The vaccine made by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac will allow the vaccine called ‘CoronaVac’ to be used in the WHO’s vaccine sharing program, called Covax, which seeks to provide equitable global access to immunizations. It is the second Chinese vaccine to be given the green light by the WHO after Sinopharm received approval in early May. The WHO said that CoronaVac was “found to be safe, effective, and quality-assured following two doses of the inactivated vaccine.”

Who’s strategic advisory group of experts on immunization recommended the vaccine to be given to people over 18 and includes two shots spaced two to four weeks apart. CoronaVac doesn’t require refrigeration and is proven to have prevented symptomatic disease in over half of those vaccinated and prevented severe cases and hospitalizations in 100% of those studied. It is the 8th vaccine to receive emergency use authorization from the WHO including those from Pfizer/Biontech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and the serum institute of India.