Bahrain started to use the China-based Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday. The respective approval was made by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), the state-run news agency has learned.
China continues its vaccine diplomacy, since Sunday, Bahrain people has access to the Sinopharm vaccine. The approval follows the success of COVID-19 drug clinical trials across several countries, where phase 3rd results showed an 86 percent efficacy rate on 42,299 volunteers.
The Bahraini NHRA thoroughly learned the data on the Chinese-made vaccine, including the manufacturing process and stability of the product. After consultation with epidemiologists, doctors, and other experts the official authorization was given.
The Middle Eastern nation previously allowed Sinopharm to conduct Phase III trials of the vaccine in the country, where 7,700 Bahreini volunteers participated. Last month, it had eventually approved the vaccine for use by frontline workers like doctors and nurses.
The Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine has been approved for emergency use in a few countries and the concern is still conducting late-stage clinical trials in 10 countries.
Bahrain became the second country in the world to authorize the use of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine. On Friday, the respective authorization was made.
