The World Health Organization approved Convidecia, a vaccine manufactured by China’s CanSino Biologics, as the 11th vaccine to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement, the United Nations health agency said Convidecia was assessed under its emergency use listing (EUL) procedure, based on the review of data on quality, safety, efficacy, a risk management plan, programmatic suitability and a manufacturing site inspection.
WHO’s EUL procedure assesses the quality, safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines as a prerequisite for COVAX vaccine supply.
“The Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing, convened by WHO and made up of regulatory experts from around the world, has determined that the vaccine meets the WHO standards for protection against Covid-19 and that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh risks,” the press release said.
It added the single-dose vaccine was also reviewed by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, which has recommended its use in all age groups 18 and above.
“Convidecia was found to have 64 percent efficacy against symptomatic disease and 92 percent against severe Covid-19,” the WHO said.
Other Covid-19 vaccines approved by the global health body are AstraZeneca/Oxford, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Covaxin, Covishield, Covovax, and Nuvaxovid. – Press release
