China claims WHO gave approval for Covid-19 vaccine emergency program

(Sharecast News) - The World Health Organization gave China its blessing to start administering experimental coronavirus vaccines to people while clinical trials were still underway, a Chinese National Health Commission official said on Friday.

According to Reuters, China launched its emergency programme in July after having spoken to the WHO in late June, according to health official Zheng Zhongwei.

"At end-June, China's State Council approved a plan of COVID-19 emergency use program. After the approval, on June 29, we made a communication with the relevant representatives of the WHO Office in China, and obtained support and understanding from WHO," Zheng said at a news conference.

Hundreds of thousands of essential workers and other limited groups of people who were considered to be at high risk from infection have been given the vaccine despite the country having not yet completed Phase 3 trials.

Hence, the efficacy and safety of the vaccine not yet been fully evaluated.

Beijing has not publicly released full details of its emergency use programme.