China Clears Sinovac Covid-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use on Children

(Bloomberg) — China authorized the emergency use of Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s coronavirus vaccine for children, becoming the first major country to grant approval for those as young as three.

The move comes amid reports that young people with the disease could be as infectious as adults. Singapore, Hong Kong and some U.S. states have so far authorized the use of Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 12 and above.

It’s not yet confirmed when this age group will receive their first doses of the vaccine in China. Phase I and Phase II research, involving several hundred participants, showed that the Sinovac vaccine is as safe and effective for children as it is for adults, the company’s CEO Yin Weidong told state broadcaster CCTV on Friday.

On Friday, Vietnam’s health ministry said it had approved a vaccine developed by another Chinese pharmaceutical company, Sinopharm. The jab is the third to win approval in the Southeast Asian nation, which is battling a new surge in coronavirus infections.

Contact editor Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com)

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