Chinese Covid-19 vaccines: Sinopharm is safe for children as young as 3, says study

The research also found that the vaccine induced a similar immune response to that found among adults

The data was released as a fresh cluster of cases in primary school children has intensified the debate about vaccinating under-12s

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China is now vaccinating children aged 12 and older. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:00pm, 17 Sep 2021Updated: 9:56pm, 17 Sep 2021

One of China’s leading vaccine makers has published new data that suggests its Covid-19 jab can safely be given to children as young as three.

The data was released at a time when a fresh outbreak involving kindergarten and primary school pupils has raised the question of when vaccinations will be expanded to cover this age group.

Data from phase one and two clinical trials published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases this week showed that a vaccine developed by Sinopharm’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products was safe in participants aged three to 17.

The two-dose shot, BBIBP-CorV, is widely used in China’s vaccination programme, which has already been extended to those as young as 12. The jabs administered to children in the trial induced a “robust” immune response and similar levels of neutralising antibodies – thought to be an indicator of efficacy – to those observed in adults.

But the study — carried out by researchers from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the vaccine maker — was limited by lack of data on the immune response to variants.

Researchers said further data would be collected in phase three studies in the United Arab Emirates, where children as young as three are included in the immunisation programme.