Hari Kumar

Opinion | For the world to trust Chinese coronavirus vaccines, transparency is vital

As a country that has seen scandals in the recent past, China has to be careful in its approach to vaccine development. Its advantage as a leading economy won’t be enough to convince the world of the safety of its treatment

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Why you can trust SCMP

A member of staff tests samples of the Covid-19 inactivated vaccine at a Sinopharm vaccine production plant in Beijing, on April 11. Photo: Xinhua

Hari Kumar

Published: 1:30am, 19 Dec 2020Updated: 2:08am, 19 Dec 2020

The approval of vaccines against Covid-19 by a handful of governments has signalled the start of what many have called the biggest inoculation effort in human history.

Among the front runners, the vaccine co-developed by the United States’ Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech looks most promising on paper but the cost would put it beyond the reach of many poorer nations. Moreover, its transportation would involve protocols similar to those used for moving gold out of Fort Knox.

China can play a key role in making sure that less-developed nations are not left out, as its vaccines – which are due for approval soon – will be considerably cheaper.

Reports indicate that over a million people on the mainland have been given the jab even though the phase-three trial results of the experimental vaccine have yet to be released. But this seeming rush has given rise to doubts about Chinese credibility.

As a country which saw major vaccine scandals not so long ago, China has to be extra careful to take a transparent approach to vaccine development. The advantage it has as a leading economy with unmatched logistical efficiency will not be enough to convince the world of the safety of its vaccines.

01:21

UAE is first government to officially approve Chinese coronavirus vaccine developed by Sinopharm

The announcement by the United Arab Emirates that it has approved Sinopharm’s vaccine is a shot in the arm for Chinese manufacturers. But the UAE did not release many details and unlike Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna, the Chinese company itself was silent on the approval.