China Vaccine Frontrunner Says Shots Are Safe Amid Astra Setback - (Bloomberg via NewsPoints Desk)

• China National Biotec Group (CNBG) said none of the recipients of its two COVID-19 vaccine candidates have reported an obvious adverse reaction or infection, as the Chinese vaccine developer presses ahead with testing after AstraZeneca suspended its trial, reported Bloomberg.

• According to CNBG, a subsidiary of state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm, hundreds of thousands of people have received its COVID-19 vaccines already.

• A CNBG spokeswoman said the recent pause on AstraZeneca's trial has no impact on the final stage of testing for the Chinese company's two vaccines, which she said has been progressing smoothly.

• However, the company will follow relevant guidelines should an adverse event occur during the Phase III trials, she added.

• CNBG's coronavirus vaccines, which are made using inactivated coronavirus and being tested in countries in the Middle East and South America, may be available to the public as soon as the end of the year, according to a company statement.

• The firm said it has invested about 2 billion yuan in the construction of two high-grade production facilities and is studying plans to further expand capacity to produce as many as 1 billion doses a year.

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