While the US and Europe are focusing on vaccinating their own populations, China and Russia are sending millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to countries around the world.
Why does it matter: China’s dual success in controlling its domestic outbreak and producing several viable vaccines has allowed it to focus on delivering doses abroad – an effort that could help save lives on several continents.
- Vaccines in China and Russia are the first to reach low-income countries, which will probably not have wide access to vaccines until 2023, according to some projections.
By numbers: China has supplied vaccines to 20 countries, including 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 have worked with local partners to create a cold chain infrastructure in Ethiopia to help transport and distribute vaccines.
- More than two dozen countries have authorized the use of the Sputnik vaccine in Russia. Ten Latin American and South American countries have received or will soon receive shipments, as have Slovakia, Hungary and a few other nations.
Details: China’s vaccines have not been as effective in clinical trials as some in the United States and Europe, but do not require ultra-cold storage, making them easier to transport and distribute.
- Last week, China approved two more vaccines, bringing the total number of vaccines manufactured in China to four. One of the newly approved vaccines requires only a single injection.
Between the lines: With COVID cases often reported daily in single figures, China’s leaders are under less pressure to quickly vaccinate Chinese citizens.
- Only about 40 million doses had been administered internally since February 9, exceeding the 100 million doses promised by the Chinese authorities until then.
- On March 1, Chinese chief expert Zhong Nanshan said authorities now aim to vaccinate 40 percent of the population by June.
In the meantime, The US and Europe are focusing first on vaccinating their own citizens.
- The Biden administration has promised $ 4 billion in funding for COVAX, half of which will be available immediately – but said the US will vaccinate Americans before sending doses abroad.
- The European Union implemented limited controls on vaccine exports in late January, drawing criticism from the World Health Organization for “vaccine nationalism.”
What to look for: The early dominance of China and Russia in the global launch of vaccines is likely to be relatively short-lived.
- As more vaccines manufactured in the US and Europe are approved for manufacture, additional doses of Western vaccines could soon greatly expand the global supply.