China’s Sinopharm Receives Approval for COVID-19 Vaccine in UAE

Sinopharm, a state-owned Chinese drugmaker, has received full approval from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, making the UAE the first nation outside China to grant such approval.

The vaccine was previously given Emergency Use Authorization by the UAE in September for high-risk frontline workers.

The UAE’s ministry of health said an interim analysis of phase 3 trials of the vaccine showed an 86 percent efficacy rate. The UAE added that their analysis indicated no serious safety concerns.

However, it’s unclear whether the phase 3 trials, which include 31,000 volunteers, have fully run their course. Both China and Russia have received criticism for granting full vaccine approvals prior to the conclusion of phase 3 studies (DID, Sept. 15). ― Jason Scott