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Desperate to Source COVID Vaccines, Developing Countries Jostle to Buy Chinese Jabs

by Eric Olander

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gave voice yesterday to the growing concern in developing countries about wealthy states hoarding COVID-19 vaccines. In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Ramaphosa accused rich countries of acquiring as much as four times the amount of vaccines needed for their populations and said this is creating a dangerous situation for those in poor countries who will remain exposed to the virus.

It’s in this context that China this week seemingly brushed aside mounting criticisms about the efficacy of some Chinese-made vaccines and accusations that it’s now engaged in some kind of “vaccine rivalry” with India. 

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