China gears up for mass COVID-19 vaccine production
- by Jake Bell
- in Research
- — Dec 21, 2020
What's new: The Beijing Municipal Health Commission on Friday recorded two new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases with symptoms, both linked to a previously reported imported case, according to the authority's announcement (link in Chinese) released on Saturday.
Mainland China has now reported an accumulated total of 86,829 coronavirus cases, with 4,634 deaths. It would also lower the risks of domestic outbreaks of the epidemic, said Cui.
Dr Zeng said China is now planning wider distribution of the experimental shots, with those working in hospitals, Customs, public transport and cold-chain logistics as well as vulnerable groups to receive them first.
More news: Taylor Swift's 'Evermore' Sells a Million Copies Worldwide in First WeekThey are among five Chinese vaccines that are in the final stages of clinical testing outside the country.
It has also approved a vaccine from CanSino Biologics Inc for military use but has not approved any vaccine for use among the general public.
As China is starting massive vaccination among people deemed at high risk of contracting the novel coronavirus nationwide, Zeng suggested that people who have received vaccination continue with personal protection measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and washing hands frequently, as no vaccine could be 100 percent effective. "After strict monitoring and observation, no serious adverse reactions took place, " Zheng said.
More news: Romney says Trump has 'blind spot' on Russian Federation , calls hack 'extraordinarily damaging'By now, about 75,000 people overseas have been enrolled in the phase-3 trials of the three vaccines, with 150,000 doses inoculated.
Vaccines developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and the state-owned China National Biotec Group Co. have been dispensed in the country since they were granted emergency-use authorization in July.
"It's on this basis that we made a decision to start the vaccination plan among the high-risk groups nationwide", he added.
More news: All Apple Stores in California Will Temporarily Close Amid COVID-19 SurgesAn infectious disease sees no borders.
