Chinese government-approved sinofam vaccine, why is it controversial?

The Chinese government approved conditional marketing of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the state-run pharmaceutical company Sinoparm on the 31st of last month (local time). It’s been a day since Sinoparm announced that it has “79.3% preventive effect” for its vaccine.

Chinese vaccine [신화=연합뉴스]

The Chinese government plans to vaccinate 50 million people by mid-February before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, when hundreds of millions of people move.

However, there are still doubts about the’Chinese vaccine’.

The New York Times (NYT) recently reported, “China has all the infrastructure to inoculate millions of people.” He pointed out that it is not properly disclosed.”

A hospital that can accommodate a large number of people, a refrigeration facility that can store vaccines, and a medical staff with professional training are all in place, but they have doubts about the most important vaccine.

Chinese vaccine [신화=연합뉴스]

According to NYT reports, no specific evidence has been provided in other countries that have found that the synopam vaccine is effective. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Turkey and Brazil.

To make matters worse, more and more citizens are refusing Chinese vaccines in underdeveloped countries that have contracts with Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

Bloomberg News reported, “Of all countries in which China is conducting vaccine clinical trials, few countries are as friendly to China as Pakistan, and even in Pakistan, there are increasing numbers of people saying that they will not get the Chinese vaccine.”

Chinese vaccine [신화=연합뉴스]

In Brazil, half of the respondents said they would not get the synovac vaccine according to a poll. A poll conducted in Kenya, an African country, found that “the British or American vaccines are preferred over Chinese or Russian vaccines.”

Bloomberg News said, “If citizens in underdeveloped countries raise serious questions about Chinese vaccines, it could turn into a diplomatic issue.” This is a painful topic for China, which tried to expand its influence in Asia, Central and South America through’vaccine diplomacy’.

Nevertheless, why is the international community paying attention to Chinese vaccines?

Turkey imports Chinese vaccine synobag [EPA=연합뉴스]

It is easier to transport and more cost-effective than Pfizer, modder or vaccine. “In an underdeveloped country, there is a high probability that there will be no other choice but a Chinese vaccine” (Bloomberg).

Therefore, more and more, there is a growing voice that Chinese pharmaceutical companies should disclose data more transparently. “Without accurate data, the current confusion over Chinese vaccines will not fade easily” (Bloomberg) fears.

Reporter Lim Ju-ri [email protected]