The newly-released data on the protective effects of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is encouraging, Chile's Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Andres Couve said at a press conference on Sunday.

The minister hailed the vaccine as very effective in preventing symptomatic infections, hospitalization, severe illness and death.

He said the mass vaccination in Chile is well underway, with more than 5 million people having received two doses. By the middle of this year, 15 million people will be inoculated.

Couve called on the public to continue taking such preventive measures as wearing masks and practicing social distancing while getting vaccinated.

Chile's Ministry of Health on Friday released the results of the vaccine from its huge real-world study, which shows that the vaccine is 67 percent effective in preventing symptomatic infection, 85 percent effective against hospitalizations, 89 percent effective in preventing intensive care admission, and 80 percent effective in warding off deaths from the disease.

A real-world study involves the collection of patient-related data in everyday settings to obtain evidence of the value of use and potential benefits or risks of medical products.

The Sinovac vaccine, one of the main vaccines used in mass vaccination in Chile, shows very good results in the study, said Rodrigo Yanez, undersecretary of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chile launched its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program on February 3. Over 7.6 million people in the country have been vaccinated with at least one dose, nearly 90 percent of which are Sinovac vaccines.