inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cell) (China National Biotec Group)

The inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cell) is a whole-virus vaccine developed for the prevention of COVID-19. It is produced by propagating the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Vero cell cultures, followed by chemical inactivation with beta-propiolactone to render the virus non-infectious while preserving its antigenic structure. The vaccine is typically formulated with aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant to stimulate a robust immune response. By presenting the entire killed virus, the vaccine induces the production of neutralizing antibodies and T-cell responses against multiple viral components, including the spike (S), nucleocapsid (N), membrane (M), and envelope (E) proteins. This vaccine was primarily developed by the China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a subsidiary of Sinopharm, with two distinct versions originating from the Beijing and Wuhan Institutes of Biological Products. It has received emergency use listing and full approval in numerous countries and is marketed under brand names such as Covilo.

Brand names

CoviloHayat-Vax

Other names

Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccineCNBG COVID-19 vaccineVero cell inactivated vaccineinactivated COVID-19 vaccine (Vero cell)