KUALA LUMPUR – Medical data has shown that both the Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines are equally effective against Covid-19, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
In a Facebook post today, he said on July 7, the New England Journal of Medicine published a report on the Sinovac experience in Chile from February to May involving 4.2 million fully vaccinated individuals compared to 5.5 million unvaccinated ones, with the study also documenting 218,784 infections.
“Sinovac was found to reduce Covid-19 infection by 65.9%, reduce hospitalisation by 87.5%, reduce intensive care unit admission by 90.3%, and reduce deaths by 86.3%.”
In contrast, he said, a Pfizer trial that reported an efficacy rate of 95% was small and analysed only 170 individuals, comprising eight vaccinated and 162 unvaccinated ones.
Given this, there is not much difference between the two brands in practical use, he said.
“Both are very effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation, but less effective against mild or asymptomatic Covid-19.” – Bernama, July 20, 2021
