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A quick word on the Sinopharm vaccine from China - seeing as there is so much debate on the TL
The Sinopharm vaccine is made from a killed COVID-19 virus. In theory, there is no chance of the virus reactivating itself once properly killed and processed. In practice, viral resurgence after vaccination is extremely rare.
The Sinopharm vaccine has passed through phase 1 and 2 trials and been shown to be safe and demonstrated efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. The data are published here
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1473-3099%2820%2930843-4
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1473-3099%2820%2930843-4
Even though the Sinopharm vaccine has /is undergone phase 3 clinical trials, I have not seen the data in peer-reviewed journals (please help if anyone has).
However, they announced that their data shows 79% efficacy here.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-vaccine/sinopharms-covid-19-vaccine-79-effective-seeks-approval-in-china-idUSKBN2940C8
However, they announced that their data shows 79% efficacy here.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-vaccine/sinopharms-covid-19-vaccine-79-effective-seeks-approval-in-china-idUSKBN2940C8
The UAE also ran trials and reported 86% efficacy with the Sinopharm vaccine. Here
https://www.meed.com/sinopharm-covid-19-vaccine-reported-to-have-86-efficacy
https://www.meed.com/sinopharm-covid-19-vaccine-reported-to-have-86-efficacy
Now, I am not a fan of science by press release and would like to have a look at the Sinopharm data before arriving at a firm opinion. So, here are some tendative answers to some questions:
1. Is the Sinopharm vaccine safe?
Answer - yes. In principle, killed virus vaccines are safe and do not pose harm. Yet data are always needed to test the principle. In this case, phase 1/2 data showed the vaccine is safe. Phase 3 data with large numbers would be really useful
Answer - yes. In principle, killed virus vaccines are safe and do not pose harm. Yet data are always needed to test the principle. In this case, phase 1/2 data showed the vaccine is safe. Phase 3 data with large numbers would be really useful
2. Is the Sinopharm vaccine efficacious
Answer - yes but there are variable efficacy figures from different countries and all are not peer-reviewed. The overall figure from Sinopharm is 79% but it is not clear whether these data are coming from all the 10 countries tested.
Answer - yes but there are variable efficacy figures from different countries and all are not peer-reviewed. The overall figure from Sinopharm is 79% but it is not clear whether these data are coming from all the 10 countries tested.
3. Is the Sinopharm vaccine effective against the South African COVID-19 variant - which is most likely the dominant variant in Zimbabwe by now?
Answer - we don't know. We suspect that the Sinopharm, like other killed whole virus-vaccines, may actually be more effective ---cont.
Answer - we don't know. We suspect that the Sinopharm, like other killed whole virus-vaccines, may actually be more effective ---cont.
3. cont. Killed whole virus vaccines are different in that the immune system may recognise different parts of the vaccine rather than just one protein - a weakness of the protein-based vaccines. For e.g. the new COVID-19 variants have structural changes to the S protein ...cont.
3. cont. ...vaccines based on recognising the S protein alone may have lower efficacy against variants where the S protein is significantly changed.
Whole killed virus vaccines may not have that problem as the immune system is still able to recognize other parts of the virus
Whole killed virus vaccines may not have that problem as the immune system is still able to recognize other parts of the virus
Last question - given a choice, what vaccine would I choose:
Answer - without doubt, Pfizer. Simply coz it has publicly available data &proven efficacy against many of the current variants. But at a gvt level, choice shld be based on availability, cost, efficacy &acceptability
Answer - without doubt, Pfizer. Simply coz it has publicly available data &proven efficacy against many of the current variants. But at a gvt level, choice shld be based on availability, cost, efficacy &acceptability
Bonus question - if i were the gvt of Zim, what would I do.
Answer - I would get the 200 000 doses from Sinopharm, use them, and then buy cheaper the vaccine elsewhere
. Sinopharm is pricey at around $30. Astra Zeneca/ Sputnik V Gamaleya and J& J are cheaper at around $10.
Answer - I would get the 200 000 doses from Sinopharm, use them, and then buy cheaper the vaccine elsewhere
. Sinopharm is pricey at around $30. Astra Zeneca/ Sputnik V Gamaleya and J& J are cheaper at around $10.
