An exhibitor shows inactive COVID-19 vaccine candidates from China National Biotech Group Sinf Synopharm Group during the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Service at the Beijing Olympic Park on September 5, 2020 in Beijing, China.
Han Hayden | China News Service | Getty Images
DUBAI, UAE – Human tests for the Chinese vaccine in the United Arab Emirates have yielded positive results, citing an 86% effectiveness rate, UAE national health officials said on Wednesday.
The figures were announced by the UAE Ministry of Health through the state news agency WHM, detailing an “interim analysis” conducted by Synoform’s China National Biotech Group (CNBG). The 10 million Gulf states began Phase 3 human trials of the experimental vaccine in July and approved its emergency use for health workers in September.
“The registration of this vaccine is a decision in response to an application made by Sinofarm CNBG. There is a significant vote of confidence in the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine by UAE health officials,” the health ministry said on Wednesday. The vaccine itself was developed by CNBG’s Beijing Institute of Biological Products.
The ministry said Phase 3 involved 31,000 volunteers in 125 nationalities, highlighting the UAE’s diverse and large traveling population, which is about 90% of the country’s total population – for the benefit of doing human tests.
The details were thin on the details, though; It does not elaborate on the parameters of the test, such as how many patients are vaccinated against placebo, and does not mention any side effects experienced by patients.
After citing 86% efficacy figures, the ministry said: “Analysis has also shown that vaccine neutralization has a 99% seroconversion rate and 100% efficacy in preventing moderate to severe cases of the disease.” Seroconversion is the process by which antibodies can be identified in a patient’s blood.
It added that “the analysis shows no serious safety concerns.”
It is not clear how the 86% effectiveness figure was calculated. CNBC has reached out to CNBC to comment.
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