As I see it | Chinese authorities must try to dispel the confusion over coronavirus vaccines
- Recent delays to the efficacy data for a drug made by Sinovac has only served to muddy the waters further
- Building public trust in the vaccines is vital so the more transparency the better
Many waiting for the announcement of the efficacy data for a Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine on December 23 were left disappointed when the announcement was delayed for 15 days at the Chinese drug company’s request.
Butantan had already delayed the announcement once as Sinovac wanted to wait for the data from 151 infection cases for a final analysis. This time, the company wanted more time to consolidate data from the trials in Indonesia and Turkey, according to Butantan.
A source from a Chinese pharmaceutical company said the trial data had to be verified by the Chinese authorities to avoid discrepancies or disputes at a later stage, adding the authorities “feel the weight of history” on their shoulder.
The pressure faced by the Chinese government is understandable.
Many developing countries have high hopes that Chinese vaccines will fill supply gaps, while ensuring the public trusts the vaccine will also be important if the government is to meet its goal of vaccinating 50 million people before mid-February.