The centre for disease control and prevention (CDC) of the Chinese city of Jiaxin said in a social media statement that two doses of Chinese vaccine manufacturer Sinovac Biotech's experimental COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac, will cost USD29.75 per dose and that vaccinations for key groups, including medical professionals, have begun.

Chinese authorities have to date not released pricing details for potential COVID-19 vaccines. However, hundreds of thousands of people have been given experimental vaccines in late-stage trials as part of an emergency inoculation programme launched in July 2020.

According to Reuters, it was not clear if Jiaxin city's pricing includes subsidies.

Sinovac's vaccine is in late stage trials in Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey and the company has said that an interim analysis of Phase 3 trial data could come as early as November 2020.

Reportedly, Bio Farma, a state-owned firm in Indonesia which has reached a deal for at least 40 million doses from Sinovac, has said that the vaccine will cost around USD13.60 per dose when it becomes available in the country.

China has said that while reasonable profits for companies are permitted, COVID-19 vaccines should be priced close to cost, Reuters added.