Bahrain approves Chinese COVID-19 vaccine for front-line workers
The experimental vaccine is currently in phase III clinical trials.
Bahrain’s Health Ministry has approved a coronavirus vaccine for emergency use on front-line health workers, the state news agency BNA reported Tuesday.
"The results of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials showed the vaccine is safe and effective," Bahrain's Health Minister Faeqa bint Saeed Al Saleh said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
The vaccine was developed by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm in partnership with Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42. According to the researchers, 100% of the volunteers in the clinical trials generated antibodies after two doses.
Phase III trials are currently underway in Bahrain, which has so far reported 322 deaths from the virus and some 82,000 infections. The United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan are also conducting human trials, and the researchers have said a safe and effective vaccine candidate could be ready for market use by the end of 2020 or early 2021.
