BRAZIL REPORTS DISAPPOINTING 50.4% EFFICACY FOR CORONAVAC VACCINE

Tue 12 January 2021:

A coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac showed “general efficacy” of 50.4% in a late-stage trial in Brazil, researchers have said, barely enough for regulatory approval and far short of earlier indications.

The latest results are a major disappointment for Brazil, as the Chinese vaccine is one of two that the federal government has lined up to begin immunization during the second wave of the world’s second-deadliest Covid-19 outbreak.

The letdown after a more promising partial data disclosure last week may also contribute to criticism that vaccines developed by Chinese manufacturers are not subject to the same public scrutiny as US and European alternatives.

Last week, the Brazilian researchers had celebrated results showing 78% efficacy against Covid-19 cases, a rate they have since described as “clinical efficacy.”