A coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech was 78% effective in a late-stage Brazilian trial without severe cases of Covid-19, researchers said on Thursday, although a lack of data prompted calls for more transparency. reports Reuters.
The results of the study, closely followed by vaccine-based developing countries to start mass vaccinations to help end a furious pandemic, were under preliminary findings by Turkish researchers and did not provide detailed data on US vaccines, and Europe.
The director of the Brazilian biomedical center Butantan, Sinovac’s research and production partner, said the detailed results are being passed to the Anvisa health regulator as part of a request for emergency use of the vaccine.
“One thing is to present at a press conference. It is different to obtain the data and analyze them, which will make Anvisa “, said Cristina Bonorino, who is part of the scientific committee of the Brazilian Society of Immunology. “If that’s what they say, that’s a great result,” she added.
Brazil and Indonesia, which have the most cases of Covid-19 in Latin America and Southeast Asia, respectively, are preparing to launch the vaccine, called CoronaVac, this month. Turkey, Chile, Singapore, Ukraine and Thailand have also concluded supply agreements with Sinovac.
Although the effectiveness of CoronaVac does not exceed the 95% success rate of vaccines from Moderna Inc or Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, it is easier to transport and can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures.
The 78% efficacy rate is also well above the 50% to 60% baseline set by global health authorities for vaccines developing at the beginning of the pandemic, given the urgent need.