The new crown vaccine is being vaccinated in many cities in China, and more than 10 million doses have been vaccinated.
What is the "strength" of China's new crown vaccine?
When can the vaccine help us build an immune barrier?
Zhang Yuntao, vice president of Sinopharm Group China Biotech, answered these questions in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency.
Question 1: What are the results of the Phase III clinical trial of China's new biological new crown vaccine?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
We have carried out clinical research in four countries and five places in the UAE.
At the same time, we have also carried out phase III clinical studies in Peru and Argentina, and now the enrollment has been completed, with about 60,000 people enrolled.
So this time we were able to list conditionally in China based on the effectiveness of the first interim analysis of the UAE (etc.) four countries and five places.
79.34% is the effective protection rate data obtained by the UAE in the first interim analysis (certified by the National Medical Products Administration).
In the future, we will continue the Phase III clinical trial for more than one year, and we need to obtain durable protection data, as well as other immunogenic durability data.
Question 2: Does the protection rate of 79.34% mean that there is a nearly 80% chance of not getting sick?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
The popular and simple understanding is correct, that is, there is a (nearly) 80% probability of preventing the disease.
In addition, if you get a vaccine, then (even if you have an infection), your symptoms will be greatly reduced.
Question 3: When can the elderly and minors get the new crown vaccine?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
China's new crown inactivated vaccine is conditionally marketed in China. This is also the first vaccine to be marketed conditionally in the world. It is over 18 years old and covers all age groups over 60 years old.
In the near future, an application will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration to expand the scope of inoculation in the instructions to 3-17 years old. In this way, the new crown vaccine is truly a vaccine used by healthy people (groups) throughout the year.
Question 4: Why are there many contraindications to the new crown vaccine?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
Because vaccines are used by healthy people, I would say it is a bottom-line thinking in layman's terms, that is, any adverse reaction that can be observed in clinical research, as long as we expect and set it, we must write it in. In addition We have to write all the side effects we have found in the history of vaccines.
This is an international norm, and all conceivable and unexpected things are written in. This is actually a way to be responsible to the people and to the vaccinators. It is a scientific way.
Question 5: How long does it take to protect after vaccination?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
Finishing the vaccine immediately will not be protective.
When the expected curative effect is fully met, it should be in line with the expected curative effect 14 days after two injections.
Question 6: Does the virus mutation have an impact on the effect of the new crown inactivated vaccine?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
In terms of the design principle, because its (virus) mutation occurs at one point.
As far as I understand it, inactivated vaccines are the most resistant to mutation.
In November, we conducted cross-over comprehensive experiments on all the virus strains collected from the world in November. We took the phase III clinical serum after immunization in the UAE, and conducted a cross-over comprehensive experiment in China blindly. The cross-over comprehensive protection is very good. Broad-spectrum protection is very good.
Of course, after that, it was discovered that the strains are popular in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Nigeria. We are doing research in the system. We will answer these questions soon. Actually, we have obtained experimental data as of today. Look, the vaccine is still broad-spectrum protection.
Question 7: What is the difference between the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine and the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
In terms of its design mechanism, the mRNA vaccine must have better immunogenicity.
why?
It is because these nucleic acid substances are injected into the human body, and then the human body acts as a vaccine factory to produce antigens and stimulate the body to produce antibodies. This is definitely its advantage.
However, mRNA vaccines are not widely accepted all over the world. As a drug, mRNA vaccines have not been commercially used on a large scale, and the use of healthy people (groups) is still open to question.
The other is that it is injected into the human body and processed into protein and translated into protein. Whether this is long-term safety to the human body has not been systematically evaluated.
In addition, mRNA vaccines are transported at -70 degrees and -20 degrees.
So the vaccination (range) cannot be too wide.
Question 8: Will the production capacity increase in the future?
[Concurrent] Zhang Yuntao, Vice President of Sinopharm Group China Biology
Our production capacity this year will be 1 billion doses, and we will continue to optimize some processes to increase production capacity.
But I think 1 billion doses are immunized according to the current 500 million Chinese people. In fact, for example, to form an immune barrier, it only takes one to two years.
Wen Mengxin and Dong Zeyu report from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Li Yuxin]