It’s not enough to guess the natives… China to export 400 million vaccine doses

Of the new coronavirus (Corona 19) vaccine produced in China, 400 million doses will be supplied overseas. Countries in Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are major importers. However, some point out that it is questionable whether China will be able to meet the demand for vaccines and exports of its 1.4 billion people at the same time. It is pointed out that China has thrown an irrational number to make vaccine diplomacy an achievement.

According to public data compiled by British medical information analysis company Airfinity and the Duke Global Health Innovation Center in the United States, Chinese state-run pharmaceutical companies Sinopharm and Sinovac, Three Chinese vaccine manufacturers, including Cansino, have signed a vaccine supply contract with other countries so far, for a total of 399 million times.

Indonesia (25.5 million times) and the Philippines (25 million times) in Southeast Asia, and Brazil (46 million times), Mexico (35 million times), and Chile (20 million times) in Latin America. In the Middle East as well, Turkey (50 million shots) and Morocco (10 million) decided to purchase it, and 10 countries around the world have decided to import and use Chinese vaccines. Sinoparm’s tertiary clinical trial countries, UAE and Egypt, are pursuing supply contracts following approval of the emergency use of the vaccine in China earlier this month.

Nicholas Thomas, a professor at the City University of Hong Kong, said, “Since the first COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China has suffered considerable diplomatic difficulties,” he said. “If a Chinese vaccine is successfully supplied to each country, it will help ease tensions.”

However, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) pointed out on the 22nd, “Along with the data transparency issue of Chinese vaccines, questions are raised about how to balance vaccinations and overseas supplies for 1.4 billion people in China.” .

Sinopharm Inc. can produce 300 million batches per year, and Sinobaek Inc. can produce 600 million batches if additional facilities are completed next year. It is estimated that Chinese vaccine manufacturers will produce 900 to 1 billion batches by next year. The Chinese government has announced that it will inoculate 50 million doses in the first phase before the Lunar New Year holidays next year, but the plan for the second phase vaccination for all citizens has not been clearly disclosed. It is observed that adjustments will be inevitable as the total amount of Chinese and overseas supplies exceeds 1.8 billion.

At a press conference on the 19th, Chung Jung-wei, director of the Combined Defense Research Team under the State Council of China, also said at a press conference on the 19th that “the vaccination ranking will be adjusted in consideration of the domestic vaccine production volume.” SCMP said, “There are some aspects of the figures presented by the Chinese government and companies are unclear.”

In the midst of this, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said, “Sinobaek has completed its third clinical trial in Brazil.” “The Brazilian Butantan Institute, which conducted a joint study, will announce the results on the 23rd.”

Beijing = correspondent Park Seong-hun [email protected]