Chile has become the latest country to approve Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech's coronavirus vaccine, which has been subject to close scrutiny over its efficacy data. The Chilean Public Health Institute granted authorisation on Wednesday, saying CoronaVac, as the product is known, was safe for all age groups. A final stage clinical trial conducted by Pontifical Catholic University of Chile showed the vaccine was effective in "blocking the.
Chilean authorities said on Thursday they remained confident in a vaccine developed by China's Sinovac despite jitters elsewhere after researchers in Brazil acknowledged that its efficacy was lower than initially suggested.
The Chilean Public Health Institute authorized the Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.
Chile Pfizer
Chile becomes the first South American country to approve the vaccine, which will be applied to the population aged 16 and older.
The agency said Chile is prepared to receive the Pfizer vaccine” to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has taken nearly 16,000 lives in the country.
Twenty two doctors and pharmaceutical chemists voted unanimously to approve the vaccine.
The first batch of 30,000 doses is expected to arrive in a week, and vaccination could start on Dec. 24. Health authorities estimate it would supply nearly enough doses to inoculate 15,000 people. The first doses of the vaccine will be given to health workers.
Pfizer working to get details of reported allergic reaction to vaccination in Alaska, company says
From CNN’s Jacqueline Howard and Maggie Fox
Pfizer is working to find out more about a report that a health worker in Alaska suffered an allergic reaction to its vaccine Wednesday.
“We don’t yet have all the details of the report from Alaska about a potential serious allergic reactions but are actively working with local health authorities to assess,” a Pfizer spokesperson told CNN.
“We will closely monitor all reports suggestive of serious allergic reactions following vaccination and update labeling language if needed,” she added. “The prescribing information has a clear warning/precaution that appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of a rare anaphylactic event following the administration of the vaccine.”