An affiliate of China's state-owned drug maker Sinopharm said on Wednesday its Covid-19 vaccine showed 79.34 percent efficacy and it has requested regulatory approval of the shot, moving a step closer to become China's first approved vaccine for general public use.

The efficacy rate, based on an interim analysis of Phase III clinical trials, is lower than 86 percent rate for the same vaccine announced by the United Arab Emirates on Dec 9, based on preliminary data from trials there...