THE BROAD VIEW

Why China still doesn’t have an mRNA shot

Covid-19 vaccines based on mRNA technology are still not available in China – even though such shots, led by products developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have outperformed most others in efficacy rates against the virus. PHOTO: REUTERS

AS THE fast-evolving coronavirus tests scientists’ capacity to develop more effective vaccines, drugmakers in China are scrambling to catch up with the most advanced technology for producing more powerful shots to better protect the world’s largest population.

Since the pandemic started, China has approved 7 home-grown Covid-19 vaccines using 4 proven technologies to back the country’s vaccination campaign, the world’s largest. But shots based on the new mRNA technology that have been widely used elsewhere are still not available in China. MRNA vaccines, led by products developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have outperformed most other shots in efficacy rates against Covid-19.

“Although the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2020 announced 5 technology routes (for Covid vaccine development), there hasn’t been any mRNA shot approved,” said Shen Haifa, chief scientist of Stemirna Therapeutics, one of the Chinese companies engaged in mRNA vaccine development.

Covid-19 Vaccines China Caixin