China authorizes fourth COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

China has approved a fourth coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, officials said on Monday.

The Associated Press reports that the latest vaccine was developed by the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu. The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Microbiology said in a statement that the protein subunit vaccine had been approved by regulators for emergency use last week.

A protein subunit vaccine is similar to other vaccines in that it teaches the body’s immune system to recognize the spike proteins that are found on the surface of viruses, the AP noted. However, instead of using RNA like other widely used vaccines do, scientists instead grow versions of the protein in cells before purifying it and assembling it into a vaccine.

This latest vaccine was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences along with Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd., according to the news service. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials were completed in October, while last phase trials on the vaccine are taking place in Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Indonesia, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Unlike other vaccines, such as those from Pfizer and Moderna, the vaccine is reportedly administered in three doses, with each dose administered a month apart. It can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures.

According to the AP, there is currently no publicly available data on the vaccine and its clinical trial data. A spokesperson for Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical told the news service that data would not be shared at this time but information would be provided to health authorities.

The news service notes five vaccines have been approved for use in China, with the new vaccine becoming the fourth authorized for emergency use.