Health DG: Sinovac And Pfizer Are Both Effective, Don’t Cherry-Pick
In terms of practical application, they’re not that different.
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Medical data shows that Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines have similar effectiveness in fighting the COVID-19 virus and not much difference was found between the two vaccines in practical use, says Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a Facebook post.
In light of news of people “shopping” for or picking and choosing specific vaccines, both Sinovac and Pfizer are more similar than not.
He cited medical studies conducted on the use of Sinovac in Chile and use of Pfizer in Israel.
Both are very effective in preventing severe COVID-19 disease and even hospitalization but are less effective against mild or asymptomatic effects.
Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that Sinovac reduced Covid-19 infections by 65.9%, hospital admissions by 87.5%, admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) by 90.3%, and deaths by 86.3%.
Additionally, the Israeli Health Ministry also noted that the Pfizer vaccines reduced Covid-19 infections by 64% and serious symptoms leading to hospitalization by 93%.
However, some concerned netizens pointed out that the two studies were not conducted at the same time. The study done on Pfizer was conducted and concluded last year, before the Delta variant sparked another wave of concern. The study done on Sinovac, in contrast, was conducted earlier this year.
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