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China Corona Vaccines 

Probably the best-known Corona vaccine from China comes from the Sinopharm company. The Beijing-based company received approval for its vaccine as early as Dec. 31, 2020. Since then, it has been marketing the vaccine under the name Vero in various countries. The second company from China with a Corona vaccine was Sinovac. Their product, called CoronaVac, later hit the headlines because of inconsistencies in efficacy. From CanSino Bio comes the third Corona vaccine from China. It is called Convidecia.    

All three Corona vaccines are also used in the People’s Republic. Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, has also said he will export the vaccines. To 69 developing countries, China has donated the vaccines, he said. To 43 other countries they have been sold, he said. Among others, to Serbia and Hungary. These are the only countries in Europe that use the vaccine from China.   

Which are the Corona Vaccines in China?  

China has three Corona vaccines. They are not yet licensed in the European Union. Test series in other countries came to sometimes widely differing results in terms of efficacy. An overview.  

Company: Sinopharm   

Vaccine: Vero  

Type: inactivated vaccine  

Efficacy: 79 percent (company stated)  

Company: Sinovac   

Vaccine: CoronaVac  

Type: inactivated vaccine  

Efficacy: from 50 percent (study in Brazil) to 91 percent (Turkey)  

Company: Cansino Bio   

Vaccine: Convidecia  

Type: inactivated vaccine  

Efficacy: 65.7 percent against symptomatic disease, 90.9 percent against severe courses  

Did China order BioNTech vaccine?   

Domestic vaccines are not the only ones used in the People’s Republic. China also buys vaccines from other countries. This is the case with the vaccine from BioNTech. Although the biotechnology company from Mainz has a Chinese partner in Fosun Pharma, problems keep arising. For example, state media ran a campaign against the vaccine from Germany. Due to packaging deficiencies, there was even a forced pause in vaccinations in Hong Kong.   

AstraZeneca also sells its vaccine in China. Its vaccine AZD1222 has several names. In the EU, the drug is called Vaxzevria. In many other countries, Covishield. In China, the vaccine is marketed by BioKangtai.   

Did Brazil get the Corona Vaccine from China?   

Brazil is the best example of how China is using the coronavirus to play international politics. For a long time, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro rejected vaccinations against the coronavirus on principle. Because the Corona virus came from the People’s Republic, he said, it was a “communist virus. For this reason, he was particularly vociferous in his opposition to vaccines from China. The company was to build its own factory in São Paulo.   

But in February 2021, Sinovac stopped the delivery of all goods that would be necessary for production. In return, Chinese telecommunications equipment supplier Huawei will be allowed to participate in the bidding process for the 5G rollout in Brazil. Previously expressed concerns that the company could use the technology for espionage purposes have been withdrawn.   

Turkey buys Corona vaccine from Sinovac?  

Turkey is also betting on Corona vaccine from China. Namely, on CoronaVac from the company Sinovac. At first glance, this is not surprising. Studies in Turkey have confirmed that the vaccine is 91 percent effective. That, at least, is astonishing. After all, the comparable study in Brazil only came up with 50 percent. The minimum requirement of the World Health Organization.  

The government itself probably also initially favored the BioNTech product. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is even said to have spoken on the phone with Uğur Şahin, the BioNTech founder. Unsuccessfully. The drug was already sold out and Turkey was only on the waiting list. The country then ordered 50 million vaccine doses from Sinovac. Why and on what terms is largely unknown. However, a second order for another 50 million vaccine doses followed.  

Which type of Corona vaccine does China use? 

There are two different approaches to Corona vaccines from China. Sinopharm and Sinovac produce so-called dead vaccines. These vaccines are based on inactive, killed pathogens. The body reacts to the foreign substance and forms specific antibodies.    

The Chinese vaccine from Cansino Bio is a vector vaccine. The genetic material of the coronavirus is transferred to harmless carrier viruses. These carrier viruses penetrate human cells. These cells recognize the genetic material and form special antibodies against it.    

How do the mRNA vaccines work?  

The coronavirus has a special feature. The so-called spike proteins that surround the virus. The genetic blueprint for these spike proteins is called messengerRNA (mRNA). In an mRNA vaccine, this blueprint is packed into a fatty envelope.  

Once injected, the fat envelope dissolves. The spike proteins are now produced in the human plasma. Not, however, the virus. The immune system reacts to the foreign spike proteins and produces matching antibodies that also help against the whole virus. The most important advantage is that mRNA vaccine is easier to produce. This means that it can be adapted more quickly to possible mutations.   

What is the China Corona Vaccine composition?  

One of the most common reasons against vaccination are perceived toxic ingredients. It doesn’t matter if the vaccine comes from China, Germany or the USA. And in fact, some vaccines contain extremely low concentrations of formaldehyde, aluminum, phenol or mercury. These substances have different effects. However, the concentration is minimal and far below the limits.       

Thiomersal contains tiny quantities of mercury to kill bacteria that might contaminate the vial. Aluminum hydroxide boosts the body’s immune response. Phenol makes the vaccine last longer. BioNTech advertises that it does not use any of the usual preservatives.     

How safe are the Corona Vaccines from China?   

Chinese vaccines fell into disrepute when a clinical trial in Brazil had to be stopped. After administering the CoronaVac vaccine from Chinese manufacturer Sinovac, a “serious adverse incident” had occurred. The Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) said that more specific details could not be provided for privacy reasons.   

Typically, however, “serious adverse incidents” would be potentially life-threatening side effects, serious disabilities, hospitalizations, or birth defects. Sinovac rejected a link to the vaccination. No other clinical trial with a vaccine from China has seen serious side effects.   

Bull market thanks to vaccine for Sinopharm shares?    

Sinopharm Group is the largest pharmaceutical company in China. It is ranked 169th among the world’s top-selling companies. When the Beijing-based group went public in 2009, its sales were around 5.4 billion euros. By 2018, it had increased eightfold to 43.8 billion euros. The stock had reached its previous high of 3.78 euros on February 25, 2019.   

 News on Chinese Corona Vaccines and the People’s Republic’s vaccination diplomacy is available from the China.Table editorial team.