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Vaccines

WHO Urges Countries to Recognize Chinese Vaccines for International Travel

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The World Health Organization is urging countries to accept Chinese COVID-19 vaccines as valid for international travel, a move that could challenge western countries to broaden their acceptance of the vaccines. The WHO has authorized emergency use of vaccines produced by Sinovac and Sinopharm, but most European and North American countries have not recognized them. The WHO is pushing back against the European Union's decision to only recognize people vaccinated with EU-approved vaccines, which could create a two-tier system of vaccination.

Key Takeaways:

  • The World Health Organization has authorized the use of two Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, Sinovac and Sinopharm, for emergency use.
  • The WHO is urging countries to recognize these vaccines as valid for international travel.
  • The European Union has decided to only recognize people vaccinated with EU-approved vaccines, which may create a two-tier system of vaccination.
  • The WHO is concerned that this policy could exacerbate the global vaccine divide and hinder economic growth in developing countries.
  • The WHO has found that both Chinese vaccines significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
  • The WHO is pushing for countries to recognize the legitimacy of life-saving vaccines, including those produced by Sinovac and Sinopharm.

Statistics:

  • 2 Chinese COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization: Sinovac and Sinopharm.
  • The European Union will only recognize people vaccinated with EU-approved vaccines, which includes Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna Inc., AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson, but not the Chinese vaccines.
  • The EU is currently considering licensing the Sinovac vaccine, but no timeline has been set.
  • The AstraZeneca vaccine made in India is not recognized by the EU, which means that people who have received this vaccine through the UN-backed COVAX initiative may have difficulty traveling.
  • According to the WHO, any measure that only recognizes a subset of WHO-approved vaccines would create a two-tier system and exacerbate the global vaccine divide.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press, "WHO says Chinese vaccines should be recognized for travel",
  • World Health Organization, "WHO statement on COVID-19 vaccines and travel",

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