Coronavac

CoronaVac is an inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech. It is one of several vaccines developed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and has been widely used in various countries around the world.

Development and Approval

CoronaVac was developed using traditional inactivated virus technology, which involves growing the virus in a laboratory and then killing it so that it cannot cause disease. This method has been used for decades in vaccines for diseases such as influenza and hepatitis A.

The vaccine underwent several phases of clinical trials to assess its safety and efficacy. Phase I and II trials were conducted in China, while Phase III trials were carried out in multiple countries, including Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, and Chile. The results from these trials showed varying efficacy rates, but overall, the vaccine was found to be effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and severe cases of the disease.

CoronaVac received emergency use authorization in several countries and was later granted full approval in some regions. It has been included in the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing, which allows for its distribution and use in many countries around the world.

Distribution and Use

CoronaVac has been distributed to numerous countries, particularly in Asia, South America, and Africa. It has been a crucial component of vaccination campaigns in countries with limited access to other vaccines. The vaccine is administered in two doses, typically given two to four weeks apart.

Countries such as China, Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey have used CoronaVac extensively in their national vaccination programs. The vaccine has also been donated to various countries through international initiatives such as the COVAX program.

Efficacy and Safety

The efficacy of CoronaVac has varied across different studies and populations. Initial trials in Brazil reported an efficacy rate of around 50.4% in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, while later studies in Turkey and Indonesia reported higher efficacy rates of around 83.5% and 65.3%, respectively. Despite these variations, the vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing severe cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19.

Common side effects of CoronaVac include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. These side effects are generally mild and resolve within a few days. Serious adverse events are rare.

Related Pages

• COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19 vaccine
• Sinovac Biotech
• World Health Organization
• COVAX

See Also

• Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
• AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine