With WHO Approval... China Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Production

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Chinese pharmaceutical companies are increasing their annual COVID-19 vaccine production to 5 billion doses. Following Sinopharm's World Health Organization (WHO) approval for emergency use, they plan to nearly double production from the previous 3 billion doses.

According to the state-run Global Times on the 11th, Yang Xiaoming, CEO of Sinopharm, stated in an interview with local media after WHO's emergency use approval that this was the plan. Sinovac also raised its annual vaccine production target to 2 billion doses.

The decision by Chinese pharmaceutical companies to simultaneously increase vaccine production is attributed to the WHO approval. It is expected that the WHO's emergency use approval of Sinopharm's vaccine will accelerate vaccination among Chinese citizens.

For its own population, China aims to vaccinate 70 to 80% of its 1.4 billion people by the end of this year, ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics next year.

Exports will also be expanded. Feng Duojia, chairman of the China Vaccine Industry Association, said, "Half of the Chinese vaccines are used domestically, and the rest are exported," adding, "Pharmaceutical companies are adjusting their vaccine production plans in response to achieving domestic vaccination targets and anticipated increases in overseas demand."

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