China speeding up research into Covid-19 vaccines targeting Omicron variant

Head of vaccine development group tells state broadcaster CCTV that it is necessary to be prepared

China has yet to report a case of the highly transmissible strain, which the WHO has called a ‘variant of concern’

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China has been relying on domestic vaccines. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:16pm, 2 Dec 2021Updated: 9:52am, 3 Dec 2021

China is accelerating research and development of Covid-19 vaccines targeting the Omicron variant, a health official said on Thursday, amid concerns among global scientists that it may spread more quickly than other strains.

Mainland China has not detected any Omicron cases yet.

“We are rapidly pushing forward the research and development of Omicron-specific vaccines based on different technologies,” Zheng Zhongwei, who heads a group tasked with Covid-19 vaccine development in China, told state broadcaster CCTV.

The potential vaccines against Omicron, dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, might not eventually be used but it was necessary for China to make such preparations, Zheng said.

There is no firm evidence yet whether Omicron will evade vaccine-induced immunity, but most existing shots are still expected to help reduce severe disease and death, he added.

Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac said it was evaluating whether its vaccines work against Omicron or whether the company needs to develop new ones.

Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products (BioKangtai) was seeking to cooperate with other institutions on vaccine research related to Omicron.