It is also the first time the WHO has given emergency use approval to any Chinese vaccine for any infectious disease. The WHO has previously given emergency approval to COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and, last week, Moderna. Questions about safety after exceedingly rare side effects led some countries to briefly pause using AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson doses or change their guidance around the use. Reliable vaccine access could improve further next week when the WHO considers another Chinese shot, made by the company Sinovac, The New York Times reports. Sinopharm is the first Chinese shot to be classified as safe and effective by the WHO, and its approval could ease concerns about the lack of transparency from Chinese vaccine companies.

Source: bd News24 May 07, 2021 15:11 UTC