While the US and Europe focus on vaccinating their own populations, China and Russia are sending millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to countries around the world.
Why does it matter: China’s double success in controlling its domestic outbreak and producing several viable vaccines has allowed it to focus on supplying doses abroad – an effort that could help save lives on several continents.
- Vaccines from China and Russia are the first to reach low-income countries that are unlikely to have broad access to vaccines by 2023, according to some projections.
By the numbers: China has supplied vaccines to 20 countries, including all of South America and Africa, and plans to send doses to at least 40 others, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry sent to the Wall Street Journal.
- Poland is the last European country to consider vaccines made in China.
- Chinese companies and government officials worked with local partners to create cold chain infrastructure in Ethiopia to help transport and distribute vaccines.
- More than two dozen countries have authorized the use of the Russian Sputnik vaccine. Ten countries in Latin and South America have already received or will receive shipments, as well as Slovakia, Hungary and several other nations.
Details: China’s vaccines have not been as effective in clinical trials as some in the United States and Europe, but they do not require ultra-cool storage, making them easier to transport and distribute.
- Last week, China approved two more vaccines, bringing the total number of vaccines made in China to four. One of the recently approved vaccines requires only a single injection.
Between the lines: With daily cases of COVID reported frequently in the single digits, China’s leaders face less pressure to vaccinate Chinese citizens quickly.
- Only about 40 million doses were administered internally until February 9, falling short of the 100 million doses that the Chinese authorities had promised so far.
- On March 1, leading Chinese disease expert Zhong Nanshan said the authorities now plan to vaccinate 40% of the population by June.
About that, the US and Europe are focusing on vaccinating their own citizens first.
- The Biden government has pledged $ 4 billion in funding for COVAX, half of which is immediately available – but also said the United States will vaccinate Americans before sending doses abroad.
- The European Union implemented limited vaccine export controls in late January, drawing criticism from the World Health Organization for “vaccine nationalism”.
What to watch: The initial dominance of China and Russia in the global launch of vaccines is likely to be relatively short-lived.
- As more vaccines made in the United States and Europe are approved for manufacturing, extra doses of western vaccines may soon expand the global supply a lot.