<p>Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority said on Sunday it had approved the registration of a coronavirus vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).</p>.<p>The statement did not specify which vaccine among the two being developed by Sinopharm, but cited data from Phase III clinical trials that showed an 86% efficacy rate and said Bahrain had participated in those trials.</p>.<p>The data cited was the same as what was announced earlier this month by the United Arab Emirates from interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials for an inactivated vaccine developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharms' China National Biotec Group (CNBG).</p>.<p>In July, the UAE started Phase III clinical trials for the vaccine and the trial was expanded to Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt.</p>.<p>Neither CNBG nor Sinopharm was available for comment.</p>.<p>The Bahrain statement said the kingdom had participated in Phase III trials of the approved vaccine and had previously authorised it for emergency use to frontline professionals.</p>.<p>It did not clarify whether approving it for registration meant that it would now be available to the general public.</p>.<p>Bahrain, which earlier this month granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, had said on Dec. 10 that it would provide Covid-19 vaccine for free for all citizens and residents.</p>.<p>In fellow Gulf Arab state Kuwait, the Ministry of Health on Sunday granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, state news agency KUNA said.</p>
<p>Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority said on Sunday it had approved the registration of a coronavirus vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).</p>.<p>The statement did not specify which vaccine among the two being developed by Sinopharm, but cited data from Phase III clinical trials that showed an 86% efficacy rate and said Bahrain had participated in those trials.</p>.<p>The data cited was the same as what was announced earlier this month by the United Arab Emirates from interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials for an inactivated vaccine developed by Beijing Institute of Biological Product, a unit of Sinopharms' China National Biotec Group (CNBG).</p>.<p>In July, the UAE started Phase III clinical trials for the vaccine and the trial was expanded to Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt.</p>.<p>Neither CNBG nor Sinopharm was available for comment.</p>.<p>The Bahrain statement said the kingdom had participated in Phase III trials of the approved vaccine and had previously authorised it for emergency use to frontline professionals.</p>.<p>It did not clarify whether approving it for registration meant that it would now be available to the general public.</p>.<p>Bahrain, which earlier this month granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, had said on Dec. 10 that it would provide Covid-19 vaccine for free for all citizens and residents.</p>.<p>In fellow Gulf Arab state Kuwait, the Ministry of Health on Sunday granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, state news agency KUNA said.</p>