Bahrain approves Sinopharm's COVID vaccine after Peru suspends trials over 'adverse event'

Bahrain has become latest country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned company Sipharm, which data suggest is 86 per cent effective. National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), Kingdom's primary drug regulator, on December 13 anunced that it has approved Sipharm's COVID-19 vaccine but did t specify, which one of two drugs developed by Chinese firm has been given approval. 

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regulators cited data from Phase 3 study conducted in country earlier this year, saying vaccine is 86 per cent effective. country h previously granted an emergency use authorisation to Sipharm's vaccine for frontline workers. Bahrain h earlier this month approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which companies claim to be 90 per cent effective. Bahrain's Health Ministry has also anunced a national vaccination campaign and has urged citizens to register online for programme. 

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"In line with Ministry of Health’s continued commitment to supporting Government’s comprehensive response to Covid-19 and safeguarding health of all in Kingdom, Ministry urges citizens and residents to register online for coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine," Bahrain's Health Ministry said in a statement on December 13. 

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Sipharm's vaccine gains approval in UAE

Last week, United Arab Emirates (UAE) h become first country to approve one of vaccines developed by Sipharm, citing same data as Bahrain. Sipharm conducted one of most diverse studies for any vaccine out re as more than 30,000 participants took part from 125 nations. Sipharm would be cheering about news of approval in two countries as it will provide company with an opportunity to seek ditional approvals and eventually sell drug to developing nations, who are highly likely to go for Chinese vaccine against more expensive American drugs. 

Meanwhile, Peru has suspended trials of Sipharm's vaccine citing some severe verse event occurring with one of participants. Latin American country was conducting trials on at least 12,000 patients. 

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