Chinese Vaccine for COVID-19 Is Only 50% Effective

Chinese Vaccine Falls Short

Scientists in Brazil downgraded the efficacy of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine to just 50%, much lower than previously announced. The news diminished hopes for a shot that could be easily distributed to help the developing world. https://t.co/CiEDgFCNvh

— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 13, 2021

Health Editor’s Note: Despite the low efficacy of the Chinese produced COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac) many countries are ordering it and are preparing to use it. Is 50% (Brazilian drug trials say 50% versus 65.3% in Indonesian drug studies) effectiveness worth using this vaccine? I guess a 50% chance of not contracting coronavirus is better than a 100% chance of getting it without any vaccine at all.

The utilitarian attractiveness of the Chinese CoronaVac is that is can be distributed without the extensive refrigeration of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines which would make it more useable in countries which cannot maintain the super freezers needed to store the vaccine front runners.

Both the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are alternatives to the Chinese vaccine as they also do not require intense refrigeration processes.  A real hope is for COVID-19 vaccinations to be administered far more efficiently and using more vaccines that can be more easily maintained for areas of the world where electricity is sparse. We have to get the vaccinations into people, not in storage somewhere they will either go out of date of become less effective….Carol 

Carol Duff, MSN, BA, RN

Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator.

She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues.

• Carol’s Archives 2009-2013