E-DRUG: WHO experts voice "very low confidence" in some Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine data - Reuters
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WHO experts have voiced "very low confidence" in data provided by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm on its COVID-19 vaccine regarding the risk of serious side-effects in some patients, but overall confidence in its ability to prevent the disease, a document seen by Reuters shows.
A World Health Organization spokesman said that the document on Sinopharm vaccine BBIBP-CorV was "one of many resources" on which recommendations are made, tentatively scheduled to be issued later this week.
In Beijing, Sinopharm was not immediately reachable for comment outside working hours.
The "evidence assessment" document was prepared by the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for its evaluation of the Sinopharm shot, authorised by 45 countries and jurisdictions for use in adults, with 65 million doses administered. The experts review evidence and give recommendations on policy and dosages associated with a vaccine.
See WHO Evidence Assessment:
https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/immunization/sage/2021/april/2_sage29apr2021_critical-evidence_sinopharm.pdf
Carinne Bruneton
E-MED@healthnet.org
<carinne.bruneton@hotmail.fr>