How joining vaccine initiative Covax could be shot in the arm for China

Name: If China’s coronavirus vaccines work, which countries will get them and for how much?
Uploaded: 2020-10-16T12:23:51.000Z
Duration: 2 min 40 s
Description: If China’s coronavirus vaccines work, which countries will get them and for how much?

Adding its weight to the WHO-led alliance is also a way of safeguarding China’s own access to vaccines

Engaging with global bodies and standards could aid acceptance of vaccines produced in China after past scandals

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Greater acceptance of Chinese-made vaccines internationally would benefit its pharmaceutical industry. Photo: DPA

Zhuang Pinghui

Published: 8:23pm, 16 Oct 2020Updated: 8:23pm, 16 Oct 2020

China’s decision to join Covax was seen as a boost to the global scheme to ensure fair access to Covid-19 vaccines for poorer countries, but membership could benefit itself as well as any nations receiving its doses.

Joining the initiative, after having initially opted out, will give China access to vaccines not previously available in its domestic market and could help its scandal-plagued vaccine industry gain the international recognition it has lacked, experts said.

Four Chinese candidates are in the final stage of human trials in the global race for a Covid-19 vaccine, while seven other Chinese candidates are in different stages of trials. Production facilities have been built in preparation, with capacity expected to reach 610 million doses by end of this year and 1 billion next year – expected to meet China’s own inoculation needs if those vaccines have been approved.

Nonetheless, the Chinese government has agreed to buy vaccines for 15 million people through Covax, and has boosted the initiative’s resources by pledging to deliver at least 2 billion doses of China-made vaccines, if approved, by the end of next year to be available to its 172 member countries.

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If China’s coronavirus vaccines work, which countries will get them and for how much?

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