Turkey said a trial with thousands of volunteers showed an estimated efficacy rate of 91.25% for a Covid-19 vaccine made in China Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a much higher level than suggested in a study on shooting in Brazil.
Since September, Turkey has conducted trials with more than 3,400 people, according to a televised press conference by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. The effectiveness rate was determined among about half of the participants, he said.
Before, Brazil said a clinical trial showed the Sinovac vaccine was more than 50% effective, although researchers delayed the publication of more information at the company’s request.
Turkey has agreed to buy 50 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, and the first shipments are expected to begin on Sunday. Authorities will soon begin a four-phase vaccination program, prioritizing medical staff, people over 65 with chronic illnesses, and people with physical disabilities.
Koca has said that the Sinovac vaccine is preferred because it is made using conventional methods. However, Turkey is in initial talks to receive about 4.5 million doses of the vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc. and partners BioNTech in late March, Koca said. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was developed using RNA messaging technology, a new strategy to fight a virus.