What’s new: Sinopharm can provide more than 1 billion Covid-19 doses to countries outside China in the second half of the year, its chairman said at a Wednesday summit.
Liu Jingzhen, the chairman of the Chinese vaccine-maker, said the company can ensure global supply as long as domestic demand is met. More than 70 countries or international organisations have approved the marketing or emergency use of the two Sinopharm vaccines. There is demand for Sinopharm vaccines in more than 100 countries, he said.
Liu added that the company has expanded its production capacity to over 5 billion doses per year.
The background: In early May, the World Health Organization approved emergency use of one of the Sinopharm vaccines.
Last week, a study published in a prestigious U.S. medical journal said that the two inactivated vaccines developed by the company were 72.8% and 78.1% effective at preventing symptomatic infections.
Contact reporter Cai Xuejiao (xuejiaocai@caixin.com) and editor Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com)
Get our weekly free Must-Read newsletter.
