Page 52 - 2021 White Paper
P. 52
1 White Paper on the Business Environment in China
strength — first in controlling a coronavirus By the end of November 2020, almost a million
epidemic, then in its ability to potentially protect people in China had already taken an emergency
its workers. China’s four experimental vaccines Covid-19 vaccine that was still in its official
developed by three companies started going testing phase. Chinese authorities released
through phase III human trials and safety testing the vaccine to select groups of people in July
before they can be approved for commercial use including Chinese government officials, students,
in late September. In reality, their vaccines had and workers travelling overseas, before the
already been deployed months earlier in the vaccines had been proven to work. Sinopharm
summer for "emergency use" and shot into the did not specify which of its vaccines had been
arms of people that China deems vulnerable to given, but said the individuals had travelled to
Covid-19, including front-line medical workers and more than 150 countries around the world and
critical service providers in large cities. Sinovac “there has not been a single case of infection
had already set up several vaccination sites in after inoculation”. “Only individual patients have
China's coastal Zhejiang province where several had some mild symptoms. The overseas trials
hundred vaccine doses each day were sold first caused some controversy, in part because of a
come first served for about 400 RMB (US$60) lack of communication from Chinese authorities.
in out of pocket costs. Other countries followed In August, 48 Chinese construction workers
suit. The Philippines claimed it vaccinated up to 9 were barred from entry to Papua New Guinea
million people with Sinovac's product before the over concerns they had been given an unnamed
official try started. The Brazilian state of Sao Paolo experimental vaccine. More widely, however,
conducted advanced human trials for Sinovac the decision by countries like China and Russia
and intended to buy the vaccine once approved. to go ahead with vaccination programs before
Brazilian authorities temporarily suspended completing full testing was quite concerning.
the trials the following month however after an Experts warned that taking short cuts to
apparent suicide of one of the trial participants. internationally accepted approaches to testing
"Administering the vaccines through emergency and regulation could fuel a wider public mistrust
use is a very necessary measure," Zheng Zhongwei over coronavirus vaccines and potentially reduce
explained. "The decision to approve emergency the uptake required for effective protection
use came after rounds and rounds of strict of populations. China had promised to supply
debate and evaluation after relevant World Health multiple countries with its vaccines, delivering
Organization regulations were fulfilled." Global potentially conflicting promises to prioritize
health experts said that reasoning was flawed. places such as the Philippines and nations in
"There is no emergency in China, because there Africa (Davidson).
are basically zero confirmed cases over many
months already," Hong Kong University molecular Though China’s vaccine had not been formally
virology researcher Jin Dong-Yan said. There are been proved safe or effective, officials injected
other risks, too. Antibodies from new vaccines in them into thousands of people across the country,
rare cases can be found to make things worse. ostensibly under an emergency-use policy. One
Beyond health, rolling out vaccines without all the such campaign was underway in the city of Yiwu in
data raises other risks for China. Already, a string eastern China. The campaign succeeded perhaps
of quality scandals over the years has people too well. Yiwu’s 500 doses were consumed within
inside the country, and out, skittish about made- hours. Other cities were limiting doses or asking
in-China drugs. If something goes wrong with people to show proof that they were traveling.
these vaccines, it would be a disaster. In October, The overwhelming demand has inspired a cottage
Chinese media reported students studying abroad industry of scalpers — called “yellow cows” in
could sign up for Sinopharm's coronavirus vaccine China, the people who usually score the newest
in Beijing and Wuhan, the port city where the iPhones or hot railway tickets — charging as much
epidemic first began. But the registration platform as US$1,500 for an appointment. Those users
was taken down the next day, and those who had could be taking big risks. People who have taken
signed up were notified that Sinopharm could no ineffective vaccines might believe they are safe and
longer provide the vaccine (Fend and Ruwitch). engage in risky behavior. They can be barred from
52
strength — first in controlling a coronavirus By the end of November 2020, almost a million
epidemic, then in its ability to potentially protect people in China had already taken an emergency
its workers. China’s four experimental vaccines Covid-19 vaccine that was still in its official
developed by three companies started going testing phase. Chinese authorities released
through phase III human trials and safety testing the vaccine to select groups of people in July
before they can be approved for commercial use including Chinese government officials, students,
in late September. In reality, their vaccines had and workers travelling overseas, before the
already been deployed months earlier in the vaccines had been proven to work. Sinopharm
summer for "emergency use" and shot into the did not specify which of its vaccines had been
arms of people that China deems vulnerable to given, but said the individuals had travelled to
Covid-19, including front-line medical workers and more than 150 countries around the world and
critical service providers in large cities. Sinovac “there has not been a single case of infection
had already set up several vaccination sites in after inoculation”. “Only individual patients have
China's coastal Zhejiang province where several had some mild symptoms. The overseas trials
hundred vaccine doses each day were sold first caused some controversy, in part because of a
come first served for about 400 RMB (US$60) lack of communication from Chinese authorities.
in out of pocket costs. Other countries followed In August, 48 Chinese construction workers
suit. The Philippines claimed it vaccinated up to 9 were barred from entry to Papua New Guinea
million people with Sinovac's product before the over concerns they had been given an unnamed
official try started. The Brazilian state of Sao Paolo experimental vaccine. More widely, however,
conducted advanced human trials for Sinovac the decision by countries like China and Russia
and intended to buy the vaccine once approved. to go ahead with vaccination programs before
Brazilian authorities temporarily suspended completing full testing was quite concerning.
the trials the following month however after an Experts warned that taking short cuts to
apparent suicide of one of the trial participants. internationally accepted approaches to testing
"Administering the vaccines through emergency and regulation could fuel a wider public mistrust
use is a very necessary measure," Zheng Zhongwei over coronavirus vaccines and potentially reduce
explained. "The decision to approve emergency the uptake required for effective protection
use came after rounds and rounds of strict of populations. China had promised to supply
debate and evaluation after relevant World Health multiple countries with its vaccines, delivering
Organization regulations were fulfilled." Global potentially conflicting promises to prioritize
health experts said that reasoning was flawed. places such as the Philippines and nations in
"There is no emergency in China, because there Africa (Davidson).
are basically zero confirmed cases over many
months already," Hong Kong University molecular Though China’s vaccine had not been formally
virology researcher Jin Dong-Yan said. There are been proved safe or effective, officials injected
other risks, too. Antibodies from new vaccines in them into thousands of people across the country,
rare cases can be found to make things worse. ostensibly under an emergency-use policy. One
Beyond health, rolling out vaccines without all the such campaign was underway in the city of Yiwu in
data raises other risks for China. Already, a string eastern China. The campaign succeeded perhaps
of quality scandals over the years has people too well. Yiwu’s 500 doses were consumed within
inside the country, and out, skittish about made- hours. Other cities were limiting doses or asking
in-China drugs. If something goes wrong with people to show proof that they were traveling.
these vaccines, it would be a disaster. In October, The overwhelming demand has inspired a cottage
Chinese media reported students studying abroad industry of scalpers — called “yellow cows” in
could sign up for Sinopharm's coronavirus vaccine China, the people who usually score the newest
in Beijing and Wuhan, the port city where the iPhones or hot railway tickets — charging as much
epidemic first began. But the registration platform as US$1,500 for an appointment. Those users
was taken down the next day, and those who had could be taking big risks. People who have taken
signed up were notified that Sinopharm could no ineffective vaccines might believe they are safe and
longer provide the vaccine (Fend and Ruwitch). engage in risky behavior. They can be barred from
52
