Coronavirus: Chinese regulator says vaccines must have 50 per cent efficacy, give 6 months’ immunity

Products that meet the efficacy standard but have not completed their testing may also be used in emergencies, Chinese Centre for Drug Evaluation says

Four Chinese vaccine candidates are undergoing clinical trials in the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia

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China has laid out its criteria for approving Covid-19 vaccines. Photo: DPA

Published: 7:00pm, 15 Aug 2020Updated: 11:23pm, 15 Aug 2020

Covid-19 vaccines must have an efficacy rate of 50 per cent and provide at least six months’ immunity if they are to be approved for use in China, the country’s drug regulator has announced.

According to a draft document released by the Chinese Centre for Drug Evaluation (CCDE), 50 per cent is the minimum efficacy rate allowable, although 70 per cent is the target.

The document said also that the regulator would consider granting emergency use of vaccines that have not yet completed their final phase of clinical trials.

Chinese companies are among the forerunners in the race to produce a vaccine for Covid-19, with four candidates in final testing. A total of 29 products are undergoing clinical trials around the world, seven of which are in the final stage.

On Friday, China issued several documents setting out the standards for clinical trials and research on vaccines, including those based on the unproven mRNA platform.

China’s requirement for a minimum 50 per cent efficacy – which means the vaccine would protect half of those injected with it – is in line with the benchmarks set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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