Two Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines made by Sinopharm and Sinovac are now under evaluation by the World Health Organization to receive the highly prized prequalification (PQ) status.
If the Chinese vaccines do receive WHO PQ certification, that could open up vast new markets in developing countries that rely on the global health body’s assessment before approving the use of certain pharmaceutical treatments. Uganda, for example, has said that it will not import a Chinese vaccine unless it has been approved by the WHO.
The WHO is expected to deliver its decision regarding Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines some time in March.
Today’s Chinese Vaccine Headlines From Around the World
- MOROCCO: Morocco on Wednesday received half a million doses of China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine as it prepares to become the first African country to roll out a national immunization campaign. (REUTERS)
- EGYPT: The top doctor on Egypt’s COVID-19 task force says so far there’ve been no problems or reports of any side effects brought on from the use of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine that’s now being administered to frontline healthcare workers. (AHRAM ONLINE)
- SERBIA: President Aleksander Vucic blasted the European Union for failing to provide sufficient vaccines for the Balkans and instead turned to China for jabs that are now being used as part of a national vaccination drive. (EURONEWS)
- DOMINICA: Chinese President Xi Jinping reassured Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in a phone call this week that Beijing would provide access to COVID-19 vaccines for the Caribbean island state’s 72,000 people. (CCTV)
