China has approved its first domestically developed mRNA vaccine against COVID-19, its manufacturer said on Wednesday, months after the relaxation of strict zero-COVID regulations sparked a surge in cases.
The vaccine, developed by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, has been approved for “emergency use” by Beijing’s health regulator, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
The company added that It showed high efficacy in a trial in which it was used as a booster shot for people who have been given other types of vaccines.
The long-awaited approval came as infections have fallen sharply across China since it suddenly dropped its strict “zero-COVID” curbs in December, making the sales outlook for the newly approved vaccine moderate.
But it would give China an additional option to tackle future outbreaks and a base for development against newly emerging variants, scientists said.
The news of China’s first successful mRNA vaccine did not generate much buzz in domestic social media on Wednesday, as the country has returned to normal and its borders have re-opened.
