The World Health Organization has approved the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's Sinopharm for emergency use.

The announcement was made on Friday by the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, making it the sixth vaccine to be given emergency Use Listing by the global health body.

"This afternoon, WHO gave Emergency Use Listing to Sinopharm Beijing's COVID-19 vaccine, making it the sixth vaccine to receive WHO validation for safety, efficacy and quality," said Tedros at a media briefing.

"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."

Tedros noted that the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) had reviewed the vaccines available data, and recommended that it be used for adults 18 years and older, with a two-dose regimen.