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COVID-19

China's Vaccine Diplomacy Under Scrutiny as World Turns to Western Shots

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, China's vaccine diplomacy efforts have faced a significant setback as several countries, including Thailand, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, begin to shift away from Chinese-made vaccines in favor of more effective Western shots. The growing preference for mRNA vaccines from the US and Europe, coupled with concerns about the efficacy of Chinese vaccines against the delta strain, has accelerated this shift.

Key Takeaways:

  • Many governments that once relied on Chinese vaccines, such as Sinovac and Sinopharm, are now turning to mRNA vaccines from the US and Europe, citing concerns about efficacy and effectiveness.
  • Thailand, which was one of the first countries to start its inoculation campaign with Sinovac, has now halted orders of the Chinese shot and is instead buying more Western vaccines, including AstraZeneca and Pfizer.
  • The shift away from Chinese vaccines is not limited to Thailand, with Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE also moving towards Western shots.
  • Recipients of Chinese vaccines are often unable to travel to certain countries, such as Singapore, due to concerns about the vaccine's effectiveness.
  • Sinovac has responded to concerns about its vaccine's effectiveness by citing clinical trial data showing its shot has been effective in preventing hospitalization, intensive care admissions, and deaths.
  • However, the company has not released studies showing the inactivated vaccine's effectiveness against the delta variant, sparking concerns about its efficacy.

Statistics:

  • Exports of human vaccines from China dropped 21% in August to $1.96 billion from $2.48 billion in July.
  • Thailand has ordered 6 million doses of Sinovac, which will be the last shipment in 2022, with at least three-quarters of government orders coming from Astra and Pfizer.
  • Chinese firms have exported 884 million doses of its homegrown vaccines via mostly bilateral deals with places like Brazil and Indonesia.
  • President Xi Jinping has pledged to export 2 billion doses this year, matching commitments by Group of Seven nations.

Sources:

  • Bloomberg
  • News Point
  • Sinovac's written reply to Bloomberg
  • The Lancet
  • University of Hong Kong
  • President Xi Jinping's statement on vaccine exports

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