Reports indicate China has initiated a targeted vaccination drive against COVID-19 in its eastern Zhejiang Province. However, the vaccines remain in phase III clinical trials, underscoring the urgency of the global pandemic response.
With COVID-19 continuing to spread worldwide, credible sources report that China has begun mass vaccinations. Back in September 2020, we noted that Chinese firms had vaccinated at least 100,000 individuals using vaccines in phase III clinical trials. Beijing authorized these for emergency use during the summer of 2020.
An October 17, 2020, article in Hong Kong's South China Morning Post details a new emergency vaccination effort in Zhejiang Province, granted "Emergency Use Authorization" based on local epidemic assessments. Phase III trials on humans confirm a vaccine's efficacy and ensure it poses no serious side effects, serving as a critical final step before full market approval.
Zhejiang Deputy Secretary-General Chen Guangsheng stated the authorization covers the upcoming fall and winter. This province, home to 57 million people, is the first to administer vaccines at a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Access is prioritized for high-risk groups.
Initial vaccinations focus on "key personnel" in outbreak hotspots, including medical staff, disease control workers, customs and border officials, and quarantine center employees. Next are essential workers, civil servants, event staff, and frequent international travelers.
This Zhejiang initiative forms part of a national strategy to eventually vaccinate the general population aged 18-59.
