A total of 100 million doses of two COVID-19 vaccines developed by subsidiaries of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) had been distributed around the world, one of the subsidiaries said on last Friday, with over 80 million doses of the two vaccines being administered.
Another Chinese vaccine maker, Sinovac Biotech, said last Monday it had supplied 160 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to 18 countries and regions, including China, with over 70 million shots injected.
The three vaccines, along with a fourth vaccine from CanSino Biologics Inc., have been approved in China and some other countries for general public use.
With voluntary participation and informed consent, Beijing started COVID-19 vaccination for foreign nationals in the city from Friday. Foreign nationals aged 18 or above eligible for the vaccination can make appointments to receive the jabs.
China has been trying its best to make its vaccines a global public good and has provided vaccine assistance to dozens of countries and several international organizations.
The following are the latest updates on China's contributions to global vaccine distribution over the past week.
Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Maldives, Angola, Mauritania and Sudan received the first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines
The first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Uzbekistan on Saturday. China and Uzbekistan have been providing mutual assistance to overcome the coronavirus pandemic together, Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jiang Yan said during a ceremony organized to receive the vaccines.
Uzbek Minister of Health Abdukhakim Khadjibaev noted that this vaccine has been tested by more than 7,000 Uzbek citizens, and no serious side effects have been reported. "In the near future, these vaccines will be delivered to all regions of the country, where more than 3,000 vaccination points have been organized," he said.
A batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, donated by the Chinese government, arrived in Sudan on Friday. The batch was received at the Khartoum International Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin, Chairman of Sudan's Higher Committee for Health Emergencies Siddiq Tawer and Sudan's Health Minister Omer Al-Najeeb.
The first batch of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Ukraine on Thursday. The 200,000 doses from China's Sinovac Biotech embody the friendship between the two countries, Ukrainian health authorities said.
A donated shipment of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines arrived on Thursday in Luanda, Angola, with the country's Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta saying it would equip the country with a "new weapon" in the fight against the virus.
Mauritania received a donation of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines and medical ventilators from the Chinese government on Wednesday. Health Minister Mohamed Nedhirou Ould Hamed welcomed the shipment at Nouakchott Oumtounsy International Airport along with Charge d'Affaires at the Chinese Embassy Wang Jian. On the same day, the first batch of vaccines against COVID-19 and anti-epidemic materials donated by China to the Maldives arrived in the country.
The first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Benin on March 21. Another batch of vaccines donated by the Chinese government arrived in Niger on the same day, marking the first jabs the West African country has received.
The Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Madagascar and Chile received follow-up shipments of Chinese vaccines
Cambodia received a new batch of COVID-19 vaccines purchased from Sinovac on Friday, giving the country a greater chance to vaccinate its citizens against the virus.
A batch of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak State in eastern Malaysia, on Thursday. Malaysia has so far received two batches of 200,000 doses of the vaccine.
Malaysia began inoculating its citizens with the vaccine on March 18 amid a national vaccination drive.
The second batch of CoronaVac, Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine, donated by China arrived in the Philippine capital Manila on Wednesday. Several Philippine government officials, together with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, were at the airport to see the arrival of the 400,000 vaccine doses.
The Philippines approved the emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine last month and received the first batch of 600,000 doses of CoronaVac donated by China on February 28.
A fresh batch of China-donated medical supplies, including ventilators and oxygenerators, was handed over to Madagascar on Tuesday. Since last year, the Chinese government has donated several shipments of medical equipment to help Madagascar's fight against COVID-19.
The sixth batch of the Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Chile on Sunday. Chinese Ambassador to Chile Niu Qingbao and Chilean Health Minister Enrique Paris welcomed the arrival of the vaccine.
New vote of confidence in Chinese vaccine candidates
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa received his first shot of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday in the resort town of Victoria Falls, as the country launched the second phase of its vaccination drive. Along with Mnangagwa, leaders of political parties were also inoculated.
The second phase of the vaccination program in Victoria Falls, targeting all eligible residents in the resort city, is strategic since it aims at boosting tourism in the country, Mnangagwa said while encouraging all Zimbabweans to get vaccinated.
He also paid tribute to China and other countries for donating vaccines to the country.
Hungary has become the first country in the European Union to give emergency approval to a second Chinese COVID-19 vaccine and another from India. Chinese company CanSino announced on March 22 that its vaccine had been authorized for emergency use.
It follows a decision made by the Hungarian National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition after the vaccine underwent phase three trials. The jab is also authorized in China, Pakistan and Mexico.
China has decided to provide more assistance to Pakistan in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday evening. Wang made the remark in a telephone conversation with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Qureshi thanked China for its selfless help, saying that China's vaccine assistance and export will play a vital role in protecting the life and health of the Pakistani people, and he hoped to get continuous support from China in vaccine procurement.