China Covid surge: Vaccines with suspect efficacies add to worries

NEW DELHI: As China grapples with the latest wave of Covid infections, the focus is back on the vaccines employed to inoculate the population.

Are Chinese vaccines as effective as some of those used in most Western countries and elsewhere?

Of the 7 vaccines employed for mass inoculation in China, all developed and manufactured in the country, only three are WHO-listed. Data from various sources and researches indicate they are far less effective in providing immunity against the Covid virus.

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WHO, citing phase 3 trials in Brazil has put the efficacy of Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine- one of the most widely used in China- at only 50 per cent. Another study by a different agency also projected a similar result for the vaccine.

Here's a comparison of the efficacies of Chinese vaccines against other major ones being used around the world:


As the above graphic shows, Chinese vaccines are way less effective in preventing Covid-infections- at best 73 per cent- as compared to some other vaccines that provide upto 97 per cent protection. However China has ignored overtures of help with vaccination from other nations.

Covishield developed by AstraZeneca, the mostly widely used vaccine in India, provides 94 per cent protection against severe complications from Covid infection.

Covaxin, developed by India's Bharat Biotech, is 78 per cent effective against severe disease.


Also adding to China's worries is a relatively low level of vaccination among the elderly population.

China is likely experiencing 1 million Covid infections and 5,000 virus deaths every day as it grapples with what is expected to be the biggest outbreak the world has ever seen, according to a new analysis. Daily infections can touch 4.2 million in March, the modelling projects.

(With agency inputs)