Argentina authorizes emergency use of China’s Cansino Covid-19 vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Friday, June 11, the Argentine government approved the emergency use of China’s Cansino Biologics Inc Covid-19 vaccine, as the South American country is severely hit by a second wave of the disease and authorities seek to advance the vaccination campaign.

Argentina, with a population of about 45 million, has registered nearly 85,000 deaths from the disease and 4.1 million infections.

In recent months, the pace of vaccine shipments to the South American country has accelerated and 17.9 million doses have been distributed, according to official data.

“Health Minister @carlavizzotti (Carla Vizzotti) signed Resolution 2021-1671 authorizing the emergency use of the Convidecia vaccine from Cansino Biologics INC,” the Argentine health ministry reported on Twitter. “The agreement for 5.4 million doses (from the Chinese company) will advance depending on availability,” the ministry added.

So far, doses of three vaccines – the Russian Sputnik V, China’s Sinopharm, and that developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University – have all been administered in Argentina.