Photo: VCG

The Chinese authorities are reviewing related data and materials submitted by vaccine developers, and will grant market approval to a COVID-19 vaccine when phase III clinical trial results are unblinded and meet standards, the central government said Friday on its website in response to questions from Chinese netizens. 

Several Chinese coronavirus vaccine producers have been continuously submitting material relating to their Phase III clinical trials to the National Medical Products Administration, according to the central government. 

There are 15 COVID-19 vaccines being developed in China and five of them are doing phase III trials, the central government noted.  

Once approved, the public will be able to receive the vaccine jab at local hospitals, community health service centers or temporary injection sites, the central government said.

The vaccine should provide immunity for at least six months, but people may not need annual booster shots, the government noted. 

In early December, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain approved a vaccine developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and revealed that the efficacy reaches 86 percent according to Phase III clinical trials conducted in the two countries.  

On December 24, Turkey's health authority revealed that another Chinese vaccine developed by Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. shows more than 91 percent efficacy in clinical trials in Turkey.

The central government has rolled out a two-step mass vaccination plan according to which 50 million people of high-risk groups including medical workers and cold-chain industry employees will be vaccinated by February 5.