The World Health Organization announced it granted China’s Sinopharm COVID vaccine emergency approval on May 7, 2021. And this means it ranks it alongside Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna in terms of safety and reliability. Therefore, it is time to learn more about China’s Inactivated BBIBP-CorV vaccine. Who makes it, and how does it work?
The Sinopharm Group Manufacturing the Vaccine
First, Sinopharm Group is a joint venture between state-owned enterprise China National Pharmaceutical Group (51%), and civilian-run enterprise Fosun Pharmaceutical (49%). But its lineage dates from 1998 as a smaller company. It now develops, manufactures, and distributes a variety of medicine and other healthcare products.
The company manages factories, research laboratories, traditional Chinese medicine plantations, and marketing and distribution networks extending throughout China. But it also trialed the Sinopharm vaccine in Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, and UAE. This confirms it is spreading its wings beyond Asia.
More Information about China’s Inactivated BBIBP-CorV Vaccine
China’s Sinopharm is an inactivated vaccine similar to the polio one. Therefore, this means the company grew large quantities of COVID virus from a single active sample. And then it soaked them in a chemical that destroyed their ability to spread the disease. However, the inactivated cells retain their capability to stimulate immune reactions. This is what vaccines do to prevent viruses taking hold.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) trial suggested the vaccine had 84% efficacy against COVID-19 infection, which is great news. Although SinoPharm itself had earlier predicted 79%. Moreover, and this is important in developing countries, the Sinopharm vaccine can be transported and stored at normal refrigerated temperatures.
The World Health Organization believes China’s Inactivated BBIBP-CorV Vaccine ‘has potential to rapidly accelerate Covid-19 vaccine access for countries seeking to protect health workers and populations at risk’. Eight million doses of Sinopharm vaccine have already been administered in Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. But the company expects to manufacture a total one billion doses during 2021.
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Preview Image: Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine
