[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm has received emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the first COVID-19 vaccine developed in a non-Western country to receive WHO emergency use approval.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in a virtual press briefing on the 7th (local time), "This afternoon, WHO added Sinopharm Beijing's COVID-19 vaccine to the emergency use listing," adding, "It became the sixth vaccine to be confirmed by WHO for safety, efficacy, and quality."
Once listed on the WHO emergency use list, the COVID-19 vaccine can be distributed through COVAX, the international project for joint purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
WHO is also reviewing the emergency use authorization for another Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, Sinovac. The decision on approval for Russia's 'Sputnik V' vaccine is expected to take more time.
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