A closer look at Sinopharm, Thailand’s first alternative vaccine

[webfact]

A vial of the Sinopharm Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine. (Photo by Farooq NAEEM / AFP)

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

A vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm looks set to become the first alternative jab available to Thais, as Chulabhorn Royal Academy prepares to import 1 million doses next month. 

 

On Friday (May 28), the Sinopharm shot became the fifth vaccine approved by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after the AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson brands.

 

How effective is it?

The Sinopharm jab is an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm/China National Pharmaceutical Group and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for people aged 18 and above. The shot requires two doses at a recommended interval of three to four weeks.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-closer-look-at-sinopharm-thailands-first-alternative-vaccine/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-29

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[tingtong]

Why first, if ppl want Moderna, and it was approved weeks earlier...plus there is willing ppl to actually pay for it the "non-profit" double price like farangs always do...and still...the Chinese bribes win the race??

 

[canopus1969]

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

Why yes you did, may have, or may not have depending on the day of the week, the time of the day and who said it....clear as mud I know.  Just like treatment for Thai's was supposed to be free as well.

[ryane66]

Seychelles  used Sinopharm and AZ. Now a major outbreak even amongst vaccinated.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/seychelles-most-vaccinated-nation-on-earth-but-covid-19-has-surged.html

[jacko45k]

19 minutes ago, ryane66 said:

Seychelles  used Sinopharm and AZ. Now a major outbreak even amongst vaccinated.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/seychelles-most-vaccinated-nation-on-earth-but-covid-19-has-surged.html

The majority of vaccinated people have received China’s Sinopharm vaccine as well as the AstraZeneca shot (known as Covishield locally, a version produced in India).

Of all the positive cases, the health ministry said 63% had either not been vaccinated or had only received one dose of SinoPharm or Covishield, but 37% of the new infections were in people who had received both doses..

 

Be nice to see a breakdown between these 2 vaccines wouldn't it!

Edited May 29, 2021 by jacko45k

[overherebc]

Doesn't matter what vac' you get, you can still catch Covid.

You just stand a better chance of not getting really ill and ending up in ICU.

Thinking the vac' will stop you catching Covid is the same as thinking wearing a seat belt will stop you having a car accident.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, canopus1969 said:

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

You miss an important point.

Sinopharm will NOT been imported by the government but by the "Chulabhorn Royal Academy" by order of the person after which the academy is named.

Mr Anuntin, health minister, did not have the slightest idea until reading the news.

Maximum face-loss but of course no complaining due to the person behind the action.

Read the article linked in the OP.

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by KhunBENQ

[Pattaya Spotter]

A quick comparison of the two Chinese vaccines:

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Pattaya Spotter

[Fex Bluse]

1 hour ago, canopus1969 said:

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

Nothing from the Chinese is free. 

 

I have no doubt the Chinese will be using the vaccine diplomacy to get other concessions, like the high-speed rail, for example. 

[mistral53]

Slow day today.......just a few of the China bashers on duty? I expected at least 25 pages about 'China-bad' comments within the hour............lol

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

Slow day today.......just a few of the China bashers on duty? I expected at least 25 pages about 'China-bad' comments within the hour............lol

Not enough China apologists left to argue with.....

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, canopus1969 said:

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

Yes, the government-provided vaccinations are free.    However, if you choose to get it done privately, which is what this thread is about, you'll have pay for it.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Swimfan said:

If I recall correctly Sinopharm is only 3% effective after the first dose and barely 50% after the second jab ?

Thaivisa posters guesses and "recollections" don't count as real stats!

 

With a two-jab vaccine the effectiveness after the first jab is irrelevant, it could be 0% and it wouldn't matter, it's the second one that completes the inoculation.

Edited May 29, 2021 by Liverpool Lou

[Rimmer]

Unattributed post and a reply removed

[Rhacsyn]

1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

A quick comparison of the two Chinese vaccines:

 

Some more info below. I have posted before:

 

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus-pandemic/uae-covid-vaccine-two-doses-of-sinopharms-jab-have-nearly-73-efficacy-shows-study

[overherebc]

2 hours ago, ryane66 said:

Seychelles  used Sinopharm and AZ. Now a major outbreak even amongst vaccinated.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/seychelles-most-vaccinated-nation-on-earth-but-covid-19-has-surged.html

 

No cases of severe illness or deaths among those who have had both jabs is an important point.

[Sir Dude]

I'm not really very enthusiastic about any of the current options here for vaccines or the people behind each one. I'd like to wait for the Moderna or J&J to become available as often seems that everyone here is being coerced into taking the Chinese vaccines/cheap knock-off local versions for less than straight-up reasons. Another reason is that when travel becomes more easy, who's to say we won't have to have had an approved vaccine by the destination country. Can't shake the feeling that that could be a problem in the future.

 

On top of that, it seems that some highly credible reseachers and award-winning scientists are about to publish proof that the Covid virus isn't from nature and has to have been manipulated in a lab, with accusations the Chinese were up to something called "Gain of Function" research, which Obama banned for a while during his presidency due to how dangerous it is. Part of the evidence has something to do with how many amino acids are present within the virus and their configuration in a row. The amino acids are all positively charged and the reason it's so infectious is because the human cell parts they attach to are negatively charged. But, the caveat is, these positively charged amino acids normally repel each other and it is highly unlikely to even find 3 positively charged ones in a row in natural organisms ... and the laws of physics rule out the possiblility of 4 in a row unless manipulated in a lab. Also, there seems to be evidence of cover-up attempts to retro-engineer the virus to make it look like it came from nature too.

 

All looking a bit damning for the CCP. Many people thought this was the case but it looks like some strong evidence is going to come to light in the next few days. I won't be taking their vaccines if I can avoid it, even if I have to hold up at home until Moderna/J&J etc. finally arrives. The CCP couldn't lie straight in bed. Only fly in the ointment is if Immigration Department links visa approval to being vaccinated.
 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Sir Dude

[MajorTom]

None of the Chinese vaccines seems to be very effective. At least not until you get close to 100% vaccination. Clinical trials can say whatever they want. We now have real world data from countries that vaccinated millions of people using mainly sinovac or sinopharm:

 

Seychelles: 70% (63%fully)vaccinated. Cases and deaths still rising.

Bahrain: 50+%(44%fully) Vaccinated. Cases and deaths skyrocketing

Chile:  50+% (41%fully)Vaccinated. No significant effect on cases or deaths.

Maldives: 57% (30% fully) Vaccinated. Significant increase in cases and deaths.

 

There is however a town in Brazil that used the sinovac with good results. But they are at 100% vaccination rate.

 

Then take a look at Israel or Gibraltar back in time that used mainly Pfizer. Cases and deaths started diving at 30+% and thats only partial vaccination. And well before that level in the UK(Mainly Astra Zeneca) or USA.

 

I fear that re-opening Phuket with 70% of the population vaccinated with mainly sinopharm will not work as planned.. Hope im wrong.

[Swimfan]

59 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Thaivisa posters guesses and "recollections" don't count as real stats!

 

With a two-jab vaccine the effectiveness after the first jab is irrelevant, it could be 0% and it wouldn't matter, it's the second one that completes the inoculation.

If you look closer you will notice it was neither a guess but a question. See the ? At the end. 
so if a first jab of vaccines give say 60% protection that would not make a difference if the recipients were to contract Covid. 
Or was that just a guess or recollection? 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Swimfan

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

A quick comparison of the two Chinese vaccines:

 

I call any jab that can prevent 100% death, complete bull !

[Pattaya Spotter]

4 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I call any jab that can prevent 100% death, complete bull !

Call it whatever you want...but most of the currently approved vaccines have zero percent death rates from Covid after full vaccination. 

[club]

2 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

Sinopharm is one of the most expensive vaccines . More then Pfizer and moderna and according to its clinical trials its really not that good. A little better then Sinovac

[Liverpool Lou]

12 minutes ago, Swimfan said:

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Thaivisa posters guesses and "recollections" don't count as real stats!

 

With a two-jab vaccine the effectiveness after the first jab is irrelevant, it could be 0% and it wouldn't matter, it's the second one that completes the inoculation.

If you look closer you will notice it was neither a guess but a question. See the ? At the end. 
so if a first jab of vaccines give say 60% protection that would not make a difference if the recipients were to contract Covid. 
Or was that just a guess or recollection? 

You're right, your post was formed in the manner of a question but it was really just emphasising those alleged efficiency figures.

 

"so if a first jab of vaccines give say 60% protection that would not make a difference if the recipients were to contract Covid".

I don't really understand what that question means, "not make a difference" to what? 

 

Either way, I've no idea, I'm not a virologist or epidemiologist but my understanding is that the 2-dose vaccines are not considered effective until the second dose has been given, i.e. if there's no 2nd dose, the first dose would be redundant. 

 

 

[Pattaya Spotter]

31 minutes ago, MajorTom said:

I fear that re-opening Phuket with 70% of the population vaccinated with mainly sinopharm will not work as planned.. Hope im wrong.

It will be a good test case.

[Swimfan]

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

You're right, your post was formed in the manner of a question but it was really just emphasising those alleged efficiency figures.

 

"so if a first jab of vaccines give say 60% protection that would not make a difference if the recipients were to contract Covid".

I don't really understand what that question means, "not make a difference" to what? 

 

Either way, I've no idea, I'm not a virologist or epidemiologist but my understanding is that the 2-dose vaccines are not considered effective until the second dose has been given, i.e. if there's no 2nd dose, the first dose would be redundant. 

 

 

You probably need to do some more research before posting then instead of guessing 

[club]

3 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Call it whatever you want...but most of the currently approved vaccines have zero percent death rates from Covid after full vaccination. 

My brother in law just got a jab of Sinovac and was told by the doctor he still has a 40% chance of contracting Covid but not ending up in a ICU. He was told to still where a mask

[placeholder]

8 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You're right, your post was formed in the manner of a question but it was really just emphasising those alleged efficiency figures.

 

"so if a first jab of vaccines give say 60% protection that would not make a difference if the recipients were to contract Covid".

I don't really understand what that question means, "not make a difference" to what? 

 

Either way, I've no idea, I'm not a virologist or epidemiologist but my understanding is that the 2-dose vaccines are not considered effective until the second dose has been given, i.e. if there's no 2nd dose, the first dose would be redundant. 

 

 

Actually no. In fact, there's been a lot of debate among epidemiologists whether it would have made more sense to inoculate as many people as possible with the first dose before proceding to the second. This highlights the difference between a public health care model and an individual health care model. Proponents of the former claim that trying to inoculate as many people as possible with 1 dose would save more lives than inoculating people on the standard 2 dose schedule. Of course, this also would depend on how potent the first does of each vaccine is.

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, club said:

My brother in law just got a jab of Sinovac and was told by the doctor he still has a 40% chance of contracting Covid but not ending up in a ICU. He was told to still where a mask

 

He does not have a 40% chance of getting COVID; he probably did not have that high a chance even if unvaccinated, though of course it depends on where he is and what he does etc.

 

People commonly misunderstand what vaccine efficacy/ effectiveness rates mean. They do not refer to the absolute risk of getting symptomatic COVID or severe COVID. Rather in both  cases they refer to the % reduction in risk compared to being unvaccinated. (The difference between efficacy and effectiveness = under clinical trlal conditions vs real world conditions. Efficacy and effectiveness rates may or may not vary, so far with the COVID vaccines they haven't varied much).

 

For a vaccine with 80% effectiveness, it means that the risk is only 20% of what it would be if unvaccinated. The unvaccinated risk is not going to be 100%,  so it does not mean your risk is now 20%. Suppose your risk, unvaccinated, is 50% (just as an example, actual will vary). With an 80% effective vaccine your risk becomes only 10% (an 80% reduction). If your unvaccinated risk was 30%, then with an 80% effective vaccine it becomes only 2%. Etc

 

With any vaccine, risk of symptomatic disease and risk of severe disease will differ, Those risks also differ in unvaccinated people.

 

 

[club]

3 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

the Sinopharm vaccine will not be free in Thailand - did I not read the Gov stated vaccines will be free for everyone ?

It only took them a week to contradict themselves on free vaccines. They are getting better