The WHO is granting emergency use of China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

A World Health Organization panel has authorized the emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine made by China's Sinopharm.

The vaccine was developed by Sinopharm, a Chinese state-owned drugmaker, alongside the Beijing Institute of Biological Products.

"This expands the list of Covid-19 vaccines that Covax can buy, and gives countries confidence to expedite their own regulatory approval, and to import and administer a vaccine," WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing, according to The Washington Post.

This is the first time that any Chinese-made vaccine has been granted emergency authorization by WHO.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.