Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

China’s Leading Respiratory Disease Expert Warns Sinovac, Sinopharm Vaccines Vulnerable to South African Variant

by Eric Olander
File image of Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshang speaking at a conference in Guangzhou. Image via Xinhua.

China’s famed respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshang (photo) issued a new warning over the weekend about the vulnerabilities of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines that use so-called inactive agents and their ability to hold up against new variants.

Zhong acknowledged at a medical forum on Saturday that both Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines showed reduced efficacy against the B.1.351 variant that was first detected in South Africa.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More

You Might Like

Global Times: Africa and Latin America Will Prefer a Chinese-Made COVID-19 Vaccine

Chinese propaganda outlets are moving to frame the narrative that Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines are better suited for developing countries compared to those made by U.S. and European organizations.  “African and some Latin American ...

Alibaba’s Formidable Logistics Operation Teams Up With Ethiopian Airlines to Deliver C19 Vaccines Around the World

China is turning to Alibaba, the massive Chinese e-commerce company, to help with the logistics in the distribution of future COVID-19 vaccines to countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.  Cainiao ...

Second Batch of Chinese-Vaccines Arrive in Cairo

A second batch of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, according to a report in the Egypt Today newspaper. Altogether, the Chinese have shipped 100,000 doses to Egypt over ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe