WHO prequalifies Sinovac's polio vaccine

Chinese vaccine developer Sinovac Biotech (Nasdaq: SVA) yesterday announced that it received the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for its poliomyelitis vaccine (Vero Cell) inactivated Sabin strain (sIPV) on June 2, 2022. The vaccine will be available for United Nations (UN) agencies to purchase to support the global polio endgame strategy.

Sinovac's sIPV is applicable for active immunization against polioviruses Type 1, 2, and 3 for children and infants aged two months and above. The basic immunization schedule is three doses with the first dose for infants at two months old, followed by two successive doses four-six weeks apart. One dose should be injected as a booster at the age of 18 months. Other age groups can also receive the vaccine if needed. The vaccine can be used sequentially with oral polio attenuated live vaccine (OPV).

With the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, countries where wild polio strains still exist have experienced an increasing prevalence of polio cases. Some other countries also reported more vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) and vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP) cases due to the virus circulating in the environment and human body, especially with the number of VAPP cases reaching a peak over the past 10 years.