They are not exactly anti-vaxxers because many of them seem to have had COVID shots themselves, but a large group of Chinese people took to social media to complain about a government campaign announced today to vaccinate China’s senior citizens, and warn (with no evidence) of side effects.
Also: Will China pivot to mRNA vaccines?
China’s health authorities are sticking with their strict playbook to contain and eliminate outbreaks of COVID-19. After over 1,200 were infected since July 20 in a Delta-driven spike, zero local infections were again officially reported for August 22.
Nanjing, in eastern China, is facing the country’s largest COVID-19 outbreak since January. At the same time, many other cities, including the capital Beijing, reported cases connected to domestic tourists. Can China maintain its “COVID zero” policy?
It’s not just the U.S. and Europe where some people object to vaccine passports: some Chinese internet users are complaining that compulsory jabs are a form of discrimination.
To help get more shots in more arms more quickly, nearly every city across China has begun giving free goodies and prizes to vaccinated adults. But one city really stood out in this nationwide drive: Shanghai.
The G7 world leaders concluded their first in-person summit since the beginning of the pandemic by criticizing China over several issues, including human rights. They also agreed to compete with China in infrastructure and vaccine distribution in developing countries.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held a meeting to mark 30 years of formal ties, and appeared to smooth over tense spots in relations — with the help of Chinese vaccine aid, which has focused on Southeast Asia.
The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19, first identified in India, is proving hard to control in Guangzhou. Like with other localized outbreaks over the past year, China is attempting to isolate the virus by testing nearly every resident in the city — 18 million tests in just three days.
In other Chinese vaccine news, Sinovac Biotech becomes the second China-based company to win WHO approval for its shot, and Chinese vaccine makers promise even greater supply for developing countries.