Chinese vaccine CoronaVac found safe, effective in kids, adolescents

Chinese vaccine CoronaVac found safe, effective in kids, adolescents

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Trials of the Chinese vaccine CoronaVac, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal, have found it is safe and provokes a strong antibody response among children and adolescents aged 3-17.

Concept :

• The randomised controlled trial covered 550 young people. More than 96% of children and adolescents who received two doses of the vaccine, manufactured by Sinovac, developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
• Most adverse reactions were mild or moderate, with pain at the injection site the most commonly reported symptom.
• The authors conducted a randomised, double-blind, controlled phase 1/2 clinical trial between October and December 2020. The vaccine or a control was given by intramuscular injection in two doses (1.5 or 3 micrograms).

CoronaVac

• CoronaVac or Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is an inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccine. It was developed by Chinese company Sinovac Biotech.
• Phase III clinical trial for this vaccine was carried in Chile, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, and Turkey. It does not need to be frozen.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) on June 1, 2021, gave its approval for China’s second COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac-CoronaVac for emergency use.
• Earlier in May 2021, the WHO had approved China’s COVID-19 vaccine Sinopharm.