CoronaVac is safe and induces immune response in adolescents and children – study

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Chinese Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac, the Covid-19 vaccine filled in Brazil by the Butantan Institute, is safe and induces immune response in adolescents and children aged 3 to 17, showed a study published on Monday, June 28.

According to Butantan, the study’s findings published by The Lancet were the result of phase 1 and 2 clinical trials with 552 participants between October and December 2020 conducted in the Chinese province of Hebei.

The study was conducted by Sinovac in partnership with Chinese institutions.

The neutralizing antibody seroconversion rate, which indicates the production of antibodies against the coronavirus, reached over 96% after 28 days of the two dose vaccination, the institute said, adding that adverse reactions observed were mild or moderate.

“The data, therefore, indicate an optimal safety profile and good neutralizing antibody titers induced by the immunizer, which supports a two-dose vaccination scheme for further studies in children and adolescents,” the Butantan said in a statement.

According to the Butantan, the data related to the CoronaVac study in children and adolescents have been forwarded to the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).

“The results show that the vaccine is safe also for children and youths. With the research progress it will very soon be possible to certify the CoronaVac’s efficacy in this specific population,” said Butantan president Dimas Covas in the release.

So far, only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use in people under 18 years of age in Brazil, authorized for adolescents over 12.

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