WHO announced its decision to authorise Sinovac's CoronaVac for Emergency Use, following the review by SAGE
Sinovac signs APA with COVAX Facility for 380 million doses of CoronaVac. (Credit: pearson0612 from Pixabay.)
Sinovac Biotech has reached an advance purchase agreement (APA) with COVAX Facility to supply up to 380 million doses of inactivated Covid-19 vaccine CoronaVac.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi Alliance) has signed the APA with the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm, on behalf of COVAX Facility.
COVAX is co-led by CEPI, Gavi and WHO, in partnership with UNICEF and PAHO as delivery partners, vaccine manufacturers, the World Bank and others.
Under the terms of the APA, Sinovac will supply 50 million doses of CoronaVac by the end of September 2021.
Gavi holds the option to purchase an additional 150 million doses in the fourth quarter of 2021 and 180 million more doses in the first half of 2022.
In total, the firm will provide up to 380 million doses of CoronaVac to both self-financing participants of the Facility, along with those supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC.
Gavi CEO Seth Berkley said: “I welcome today’s agreement, which will make doses immediately available to COVAX participants.
“This is yet another example of Gavi’s active portfolio management strategy, ensuring the Facility has options in the face of constraints such as supply delays.
“Thanks to this deal, and because these vaccines have already received WHO Emergency Use Listing, we can move to start supplying doses to countries immediately.”
The safety and effectiveness of Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine were systematically reviewed and evaluated by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).
SAGE recommended two doses of CoronaVac for adults aged 18 and above.
Last month, the WHO has announced Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for Sinovac’s CoronaVac, following the SAGE review.
According to Phase 3 study conducted in Turkey, CoronaVac showed the ability to prevent 83.5% of symptomatic cases and 100% of fatal and hospitalised cases.
Results from the real-world study of Chile’s mass vaccination showed that the vaccine has 65.9% effectiveness in protecting symptomatic cases, reducing 87.5% of hospitalisations, and preventing 90.3% of serious cases and 86.3% of deaths.
Sinovac chairman, president and CEO Weidong Yin said: “Our mission at Sinovac is to supply vaccines in an effort to eliminate human disease.
“We appreciate the efforts from international organisations, including WHO and COVAX partners, to accelerate the efforts of disease prevention.
“Sinovac has delivered over one billion doses globally as of the end of June 2021with the aim of contributing to the accessibility and affordability of Covid-19 vaccines during this pandemic.