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| A display shows packages of vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2 by Sinovac Biotech during a government-organised media tour in Beijing, China, on Sep 24, 2020. (Photo by=Reuters/Thomas Peter) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] A COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech is 91.25 per cent effective, according to interim data from a late-stage trial in Turkey, a potentially much better result than reported from a separate trial of the vaccine in Brazil.
Turkish researchers said on Thursday (Dec 24) no major side-effects were seen during their trial, apart from one person who had an allergic reaction. Common adverse effects caused by the vaccine were fever, mild pain and slight fatigue, they said. Researchers in Brazil, which is also running a final Phase 3 trial of the vaccine, said on Wednesday the shot was more than 50 per cent effective, but withheld full results at the company's request, raising questions about transparency.
The Turkish trials began on Sep 14 and have included more than 7,000 volunteers, the researchers said, adding the results announced on Thursday were based on data from 1,322 people. Sinovac is the first Chinese vaccine maker to release details from late-stage clinical trials, following positive results from rival products developed by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca last month. The Turkish researchers, speaking alongside Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, said 26 of the 29 people who were infected during the trial were given placebos, adding the trial would continue until 40 people become infected.
