Free Republic

The censoring of a woman who posted about the death of her mother after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine has recently caused a stir in China, prompting further scrutiny on the effectiveness of Chinese-made vaccines.On Aug. 24, a woman with the handle TomoJiangJiang posted on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform, that after her mother took her first Sinopharm COVID-19 shot on Mar. 26, she developed a drug-induced rash and skin hemorrhages on Mar. 31, and eventually died on June 30.“I really want to know the truth … We met a lot of good doctors who tried their best but couldn’t save my...

Senior government hospital doctor says mixing of shots highly effectiveA booster shot is the most effective protection against Covid-19 for those who have taken two shots of the Sinopharm vaccine, doctors said at the Arab Health trade exhibition in Dubai. Dr Gehad ElGhazali, lead immunologist at the government-run Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, reported a "very strong" response in the body's immune system once a double dose of the Sinopharm vaccine was topped up with a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Although we see antibodies in those who have had the virus, we still do not know...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are offering a booster shot of the Chinese-developed Sinopharm vaccine to residents and citizens who have already had two doses, the countries’ medical authorities said... ...The announcements come amid questions over Sinopharm’s efficacy and reports of Covid-19 reinfections among people who have received their two doses of the shot... ...In a national case that’s raised more concerns, the Seychelles — the most highly-vaccinated country in the world, with roughly 60% of those vaccinated having received Sinopharm — is seeing a new surge of Covid cases among vaccinated residents. Its...

The Biden Administration telling Israel to "de-escalate" as Palestinians fight Israeli police, US unemployment up last month and California's population down since last year but first... Three people arrested for entering the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho today when they didn't wear masks... Under 40 year olds to be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in the UK... Germany objecting to a US proposal to waive patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines... The World Health Organization granting emergency approval for China's Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine... Pfizer now wants the Food and Drug Administration to grant full approval of its...

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Filipinos not to follow his example and get the China-made Sinopharm vaccine which has not yet been approved by the country’s health regulator for use against the CCP virus. Duterte, who was able to get the Sinopharm jab via a compassionate use permit despite the drug not yet being approved, has since asked the Chinese embassy to return 1,000 unused doses that were donated by Beijing. Following criticism, Duterte told Filipinos, “Don’t follow my steps.” “It’s dangerous because there are no studies, it might not be good for the body. Just let me be the...

So far two countries have exited the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic using U.S.-made vaccines (Israel and the United States), while two other countries have seen infection rates rising despite heavy use of Chinese-made vaccines (Chile and Seychelles).Success of U.S. vaccinesIsrael achieved herd immunity by vaccinating almost 60% of its population using the U.S.-made Pfizer vaccine. According to a chart published by Worldometer, the COVID death rate has fallen to almost zero in Israel.Similarly, the United States exited the pandemic the week of March 20, when just 25% had been vaccinated, compared to 45% today. That was the week when deaths in...

The Pakistani President tested positive for COVID-19 on March 29, 14 days after receiving his first injection with a Chinese vaccine; on March 20, the Pakistani Prime Minister tested positive for COVID-19, 2 days after he received his inoculation.Pakistani President Arif Alvi announced on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19. Both he and his wife were inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinopharm on March 15.وازا مرضت فھوا یشفیناور جب میں بیمار ہوتا ہوں تو وہی شفا دیتا ہےI have tested positive for Covid-19. May Allah have mercy on all Covid affectees. Had 1st dose of vaccine، but...

In order for people to travel in 2021, they may eventually need a COVID vaccine passport. Several companies and technology groups have begun developing smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, creating digital credentials that could be shown in order to enter concert venues, stadiums, movie theaters, offices, or even countries. The Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based nonprofit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum, has partnered with several airlines including Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, as well as hundreds of health systems...

Nearly a million people in China have taken an experimental coronavirus vaccine through the country's emergency use program as of Wednesday, according to vaccine developer China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm). China initiated the emergency use program in July. The program so far includes three vaccine candidates for essential workers and high-risk individuals, although clinical studies have not yet proved the vaccines' safety and efficacy, according to Reuters. Two vaccine candidates are developed by Sinopharm's subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG), and the third is developed by Sinovac Biotech. All three vaccines have been used for China's emergency program. "In terms...

None of the 56,000 people who were inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine and travelled abroad have contracted the coronavirus, Sinopharm's chairman said on Friday. Sinopharm Chairman Liu Jingzhen, said at a conference on Friday that some 100,000 people have been vaccinated with the company's vaccine and have shown none adverse reactions so far. Among those who were inoculated and travelled aboard, none have been infected with the virus, said Liu. Some of those other received the emergency-use vaccine are employees of China National Petroleum Corporation, China Petrochemical Corporation and Technology giant Huawei. Liu said that there are 99 people in...

Chinese-state owned pharmaceutical giant, Sinopharm, has priced their experimental COVID-19 vaccine at 1,000 yuan ($145 USD), a number 36 times higher than the vaccine candidate from Oxford University. Sinopharm Chairman Liu Jingzhen estimated the value of the company's two-dose vaccine on Tuesday, according the Guangming Daily. However, it was unclear if he was referring to the retail or wholesale cost of the drug, which is estimated to be available this December. In comparison, a vaccine being developed in partnership from Oxford University and drug maker AstraZenca is offering the cheapest price point per dose at $4, when it will be...

A coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by a Chinese pharmaceutical company could be ready for use by the end of this year, state media reported. Liu Jingzhen, chairman of China National Pharmaceutical Group (SinoPharm), told state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday that SinoPharm started phase three clinical trials in late June and the product was expected to enter the market by the end of the year. “Phase three trials should be completed in about three months. In the meantime, they are in the final stages of approval,” he was quoted as saying. The vaccine candidate was jointly developed by the Beijing Institute...