China, Macau's 'Vaccine Tourism' Craze

After China's Eased Quarantine Policies, Many Chinese Concerned About Infection Travel to Macau
Macau Allows mRNA Vaccination for Mainland and Non-Residents

Vaccination center in Macau. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Chinese people are flocking to Macau to receive BioNTech's mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine, Chinese economic media Caixin reported on the 14th.

Caixin reported that Chinese people are making vaccination reservations online, paying the vaccination fees, and receiving the 'Fubitai' vaccine at the Macau University of Science and Technology's medical school. Fubitai is an mRNA vaccine solely developed by Germany's BioNTech.

mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are currently not approved for use by Chinese health authorities and thus cannot be used in China.

However, vaccination is possible in Macau. In February last year, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group received special approval for the use of the mRNA vaccine (Fubitai), known as Comirnaty, in Macau. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group is BioNTech's partner in China.

Macau had not allowed vaccination for mainland Chinese visitors coming for short-term visits, but since the 1st of last month, it has permitted vaccination for non-residents including mainland Chinese.

As Chinese health authorities recently eased mainland epidemic prevention policies, many Chinese, concerned about infection, appear to be engaging in vaccine tourism to Macau.

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