Brazil could launch Chinese coronavirus vaccine this year, says governor, citing ‘extremely positive’ results
- Widespread vaccination campaign using Sinovac’s CoronaVac could begin as early as December
- Vaccine produced immune response in 98 per cent of recipients over 60, with no adverse side-effects reported so far, said Sao Paulo’s governor
Clinical trials in Brazil of a Chinese-made vaccine against Covid-19 have shown “extremely positive” results, and a widespread vaccination campaign could begin as early as December, the governor of Sao Paulo state said on Wednesday.
Sao Paulo, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in hard-hit Brazil, is one of six states helping to test the so-called CoronaVac vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech.
The vaccine produced an immune response in 98 per cent of recipients over 60 years old, with no adverse side-effects reported so far, said Governor Joao Doria.
“The results have been extremely positive,” he told a news conference. “We will soon be able to immunise Brazilians in Sao Paulo and across the country with the CoronaVac vaccine … The projected delivery date is in December this year.”
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China prepares for coronavirus vaccine mass production though clinical trials are not yet complete
Sinovac has partnered with a Brazilian public health research centre, the Butantan Institute, to conduct Phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine – the last step before regulatory approval.
The deal gives the institute the right to produce 120 million doses of the vaccine, according to officials.