The world welcomes China-developed vaccines

 

Many countries have recognized China-developed COVID-19 vaccines due to its safety and efficacy. Leaders of many countries have already shown their confidence in China-developed vaccines.

Pakistan

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan launched COVID-19 vaccination drive with China-donated vaccines on Feb. 2, 2021 as part of the country's efforts to bring the pandemic under control.

The first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines reached Pakistan early Monday from Beijing on a special Pakistan Air Force plane.

Khan, who oversaw the start of the vaccination campaign with the first jab administered to a doctor at the Prime Minister's House, thanked China for donating the vaccine to Pakistan.

“We thank China for providing us 500,000 vaccines.”the prime minister said.

Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would personally opt to receive the Chinese vaccine, as he trusted it more than others on Jan 29, 2021, media reported.

Chile

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Jan 28, 2021 welcomed a shipment of nearly 2 million vaccines developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech as the South American country is preparing for mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19.

"Today is a day of joy, excitement and hope because, as you see behind me, there is the plane that brought a shipment of almost 2 million doses of Sinovac vaccines from China," Pinera said after the aircraft landed at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in the capital Santiago.

The Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to receive the Chinese-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine shots, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Jan 19, 2021.

Cambodia

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Jan 17 that he will be the first in the country to be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinopharm to boost the public's confidence in the shot, CGTN reported.

On Jan 15, Hun Sen announced that he had accepted a donation of 1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. He said apart from the donation, the government will continue to seek more vaccine doses for 10 million or up to 13 million people if there is a need to vaccinate up to 80 percent of the country's population.

Serbia

A million doses of China's Sinopharm inactivated coronavirus vaccines arrived at the Belgrade Airport in Serbia on Jan 16, 2021, the government confirmed in a press release.

The shipment was welcomed at the Belgrade Airport by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, China's Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar and the head of the Security Intelligence Agency Bratislav Gasic.

Vucic said that the arrival of the vaccine is a "proof of the great friendship between Serbia and China," and it will help protect the lives of 500,000 people, adding he will get vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine.

"As an ordinary person and the president of Serbia, I am convinced of the quality of the Chinese vaccine, which will be decided by our competent agency," he said.

Turkey

Turkey started mass vaccination for COVID-19 on Jan 14 after the authorities approved the emergency use of the Chinese vaccine. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan received a shot of the Sinovac's CoronaVac coronavirus disease vaccine at Ankara City Hospital on the same day.

More than 600,000 health workers in Turkey have received their first doses of COVID-19 shots developed by China's Sinovac during the first two days of the country's vaccination program.

Indonesia

Indonesia, through its Food and Drug Control Agency, approved China's biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine for use on Jan 11.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Jan 13 received the COVID-19 vaccine shot. After the president, the Indonesian military chief, the national police chief and the Health Minister, among others, were also vaccinated.

Widodo received his second dose of the vaccine on Jan 27, two weeks after the first injection.

Seychelles

The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Seychelles began vaccinating its population against the coronavirus on Jan 10, 2021.

The country's president, Wavel Ramkalawan, was the first to receive the jab, an event broadcast on live television at a hospital in the capital Victoria. Several dozen public figures joined him.

The country is using the Chinese vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm with its subsidiary the China National Biotec Group.

The UAE

The UAE announced on Dec 9, 2020, the official registration of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the China National Pharmaceutical Group, or Sinopharm, the official WAM news agency reported.

The UAE became the first country to offer Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccines to all citizens and residents for free, on Dec 23. The trials in UAE shows the Chinese vaccine provides 86 percent efficacy against COVID-19 infection.

The vaccine was granted Emergency Use Authorization in September by the health ministry to protect frontline workers most at risk of COVID-19.

(Source: Xinhua, China Daily, CGTN and Global Times)

[ Editor: Liu Jiaming ]