WHO Gives The Green Light For Covid-19 Vaccine From China, Sinopharm

Ilustrasi vaksin COVID-19. (Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Defense of Peru)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 vaccine from China, Sinopharm finally received an emergency permit for use from the World Health Organization (WHO). The green light given by the WHO is even more late because Sinopharm has actually circulated 65 million doses to several of its member countries.

Quoted from the BCC, Sinopharm became the first corona virus vaccine from a non-Western country to receive WHO approval. Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the issuance of emergency permits would help the country to quickly process the corona virus vaccine.

Countries that have declared their use include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan and Hungary. WHO's technical advisory body grants emergency clearance after reviewing clinical trial and manufacturing practice data.

It is said that for symptomatic patients and being treated, Sinopharm's corona vaccine has an efficacy of up to 79 percent. The advisory team noted that this vaccine was not given to patients over the age of 60 in clinical trials. Even so, the health agency believes the vaccine will not change for the advanced group

Another reason why Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine is licensed is that it can be stored at temperatures of 2-8 degrees Celsius. WHO explained that the ease of storage allows countries with few resources to access it.