Head of China's Disease Control Faces Criticism Over Comments on Chinese Vaccine Efficacy... Issues Prompt Clarification

"The low efficacy of Chinese vaccines" means humanity is encountering these vaccines for the first time and much research is needed
Chile University Chinese vaccine report: '27.7% efficacy within 2 weeks after 2nd dose, 56.5% efficacy after 2 weeks'

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Remarks by the head of China's disease control agency on the efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines have come under scrutiny.

Gao Fu, Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated at the "2nd Vaccine and Health Conference" held on the 10th in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, that "China's existing vaccines do not have a high protection rate (效率不高)" and added, "To address this, we are considering alternating different vaccines for inoculation."

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) highlighted the statement on the 11th that "Chinese vaccine protection rates are not high." It reported that the head of China's disease control agency had, for the first time, acknowledged the low effectiveness of Chinese vaccines. SCMP further conveyed Gao's conference remarks that "to improve vaccine efficacy, measures such as adjusting dosage, intervals between doses, and the number of doses per person are being considered."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After his remarks spread through overseas media and social networks (SNS), Director Gao hurriedly gave a separate interview to China's Global Times on the 11th to clarify the meaning of his statements.

Gao said, "I expressed scientific views during discussions with scientists worldwide about vaccine efficacy," adding, "Ways to improve vaccine efficacy, such as dosage, intervals, and number of doses, are issues that scientists around the world need to consider."

He also stated, "Since COVID-19 vaccines are the first of their kind for humanity, there is much research to be done," and "If improvements are needed in the future, adjustments can be made." Gao emphasized that the remarks circulating on overseas media and SNS claiming that Chinese vaccines have low efficacy are a "complete misunderstanding" that ignores scientific knowledge. He said, "Vaccines should be used fairly and shared globally," adding, "If the world does not share vaccines, the virus will share the world."

Chinese health authorities have yet to release detailed statistical data on Chinese-made vaccines. It is only roughly known that their efficacy is about 70%. This has led to considerable skepticism regarding the efficacy of Chinese vaccines.

A report from the University of Chile on the efficacy of Chinese vaccines has further amplified such doubts.

The Global Times evaluated AFP's report on the University of Chile's findings that the Sinovac vaccine showed an efficacy of only 27.7% within two weeks after the second dose and 56.5% thereafter, stating, "This study is very limited and is hardly close to a formal paper." It added that no hospitalizations or severe cases occurred in the clinical trial group and that Chilean health authorities are expected to announce Sinovac clinical results next week.

Meanwhile, the National Health Commission of China announced on the 10th at noon that the total number of vaccine doses administered within China has reached 1,644,710,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.