The State Council Information Office P.R.C. held a press conference today (December 31). Relevant persons in charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Health Commission, the National Medical Products Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, experts in the vaccine research and development class, and the head of the Sinopharm Group introduced the new coronavirus vaccine and answered reporters’ questions.

It was introduced at the press conference that the Sinopharm COVID-19 Inactivated Vaccine has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration for conditional listing. Existing data show that the protection rate is 79.34%, achieving the unity of safety, effectiveness, accessibility, and affordability, and meeting the relevant standards of the World Health Organization and the National Medical Products Administration.

After the news was released, Sinopharm shares rose in the short-term, rising by more than 7%. Sinopharm's Hong Kong stocks rose in the short-term and are now up more than 2%.

Sinopharm Group announced on the 30th that according to statistical analysis, the results of the interim analysis of the Phase III clinical trial of the new coronavirus inactivated vaccine of Sinopharm Sinopharm (Sinopharm Zhongsheng) Beijing Company showed that the vaccine is safe after vaccination, and the immunization program is two injections. After that, all vaccinators in the vaccine group produced high-titer antibodies, and the neutralizing antibody positive conversion rate was 99.52%. The vaccine's protective efficacy against the disease caused by the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was 79.34%, and the data reached the World Health Organization. Relevant technical standards and relevant standard requirements in the Guiding Principles for Clinical Evaluation of New Coronavirus Preventive Vaccines (Trial) issued by the National Medical Products Administration.

Public information shows that Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has previously undergone Phase III clinical trials in many countries and regions, and has been approved for emergency use in China. In emergency use and overseas Phase III clinical trials, no serious adverse reactions were reported. A few days ago, the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for marketing in the UAE and Bahrain earlier this month.