Beijing: China has approved emergency use of Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine. For, people in age between three and 17, its chairman Yin Weidong told state TV late.
Also, mass vaccination drive of China , is currently only open to those of age 18. This has administered 723.5 million doses of vaccines.
Furthermore, when Sinovac vaccines offers younger group depends on health authorities. The one’s formulating China’s inoculation strategies, Yin told state TV in an live interview.
So, Yin said minors have lower priority for vaccination against the coronavirus compared with the elderly; who face higher risk of severe symptoms after infection.
Preliminary results from Phase I and II clinical trials showed the vaccinations could trigger immune response in three to 17 year-old participants, and most adverse reactions were mild.
Sinovac has also completed a Phase II clinical trial where participants were injected with a third booster dose after completing two regular shots, Yin said.
State-backed drugmaker Sinopharm, which has two shots using similar technology to Sinovac’s product; is also submitting data for clearance in younger groups.
A vaccine from CanSino Biologics’, adopting a different technique; enters a Phase II trial involving those aged between six and 17.
Participants saw 10 fold increase in antibody levels compare to previous levels in a week, and 20 fold in half a month, Yin said.
Yin cautioned that Sinovac still needs to complete longer-term observation of antibody duration before it can make recommendation to authorities about when a third dose should be given for coronavirus.