New Sinopharm vaccine approved by UAE
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Dubai: The UAE Ministry for Health and Prevention Has approved the use of a new Chinese-manufactured vaccine from Sinopharm which uses recombinant protein technology, on account of its increased immune response effect demonstrated in UAE studies.
The study included individuals who were previously vaccinated with two doses of Sinopharm CNBG's inactivated vaccine. The seroconversion rate (efficacy) was up to 100 per cent in producing neutralising antibodies. No side effects were recorded among any of the participants.
Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV vaccine, widely distributed across the world, was shown to be inefficient against Omicron, with protection from the vaccine waning to almost nothing 8-9 months after the doses, according to a non-peer-reviewed study from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong claimed.
The new vaccine will be used as a booster in 2022 for those who have already received two doses of Sinopharm's inactivated virus vaccine earlier. While inactivated virus vaccines train the body to recognise and eliminate the threat, recombinant protein vaccines accomplish the same by targeting the 'spike proteins' on the outside of the virus.
In addition to approving the vaccine, the UAE government has announced the new vaccine will be manufactured and distributed by Hayat Biotech, a joint venture between Sinopharm and G42. Hayat-Vax is the locally-produced version of the inactive Sinopharm vaccine also made at the Hayat Biotech plant and is a key part of the UAE's strategy to support inoculation drives both at home and abroad.
Sinopharm's new vaccine also has the advantage of storage at normal fridge temperatures rather than needing ultra-cool storage units, which could prove beneficial to lower-income countries.
1732 new Covid cases were reported on Monday, bringing the total number of infections so far to 753,065. One death was reported. 608 people were discharged or. Recovered from the virus raising the number of recoveries to 741,933. New restrictions have also been brought to bear across the UAE, especially in Dubai to counter the predicted surge in infection expected around New Year's celebrations.