China answer on vaccine supply

Fri, May 14th 2021, 08:00 AM

THE Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas is in talks with the Bahamian government about potentially providing supplies of China's COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccine which the World Health Organisation has just approved for emergency use.

The Sinopharm vaccine is both the first Chinese vaccine and the first vaccine from a developing country to receive approval from the global health body. Overall, it is the sixth vaccine to achieve this distinction.
#Haigang Yin, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nassau, told The Tribune last night:: “We are pleased to see that the WHO has acknowledged the safety of the China Sinopharm vaccine. China has pledged that the vaccines should be made an international public good for all countries. So far, China has provided and is providing much-needed vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organisations in different ways.
#“China is now the largest provider of vaccines to developing countries. Since the WHO approved the Sinopharm vaccine last week, China has been in communication with WHO regarding the implementation of its pledge of an initial batch of 10 million doses to the COVAX mechanism as soon as possible. These vaccines will be sent to meet the urgent needs of developing countries.
#“As it regards to The Bahamas, the Embassy is in communication with the relevant departments of the Bahamian government. China will continue to support The Bahamas to defeat the virus.”
#The Bahamian government’s appetite for the Chinese vaccine is unclear, but officials are keen to boost their supplies so the country can achieve herd immunity and resume normalcy. So far there have been no signals from the us that any special case is going to be made for The Bahamas despite it being the country’s closest neighbour which has not yet received US vaccines as have Canada and Mexico.
#Mr Yin said, ultimately, a request for vaccines must come from the Bahamian government.
#China’s outreach to countries like The Bahamas comes as observers wait to see what the United States will do with its supplies of vaccines. Last month, the White House announced the US will share up to 60 million of its Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries and that the doses will be exported in the coming months after a federal review.
#China’s willingness to directly share vaccines with The Bahamas comes as good news continues to emerge about the benefits fully vaccinated people could enjoy.

The Sinopharm vaccine is both the first Chinese vaccine and the first vaccine from a developing country to receive approval from the global health body. Overall, it is the sixth vaccine to achieve this distinction.

Haigang Yin, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nassau, told The Tribune last night:: “We are pleased to see that the WHO has acknowledged the safety of the China Sinopharm vaccine. China has pledged that the vaccines should be made an international public good for all countries. So far, China has provided and is providing much-needed vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organisations in different ways.

“China is now the largest provider of vaccines to developing countries. Since the WHO approved the Sinopharm vaccine last week, China has been in communication with WHO regarding the implementation of its pledge of an initial batch of 10 million doses to the COVAX mechanism as soon as possible. These vaccines will be sent to meet the urgent needs of developing countries.

“As it regards to The Bahamas, the Embassy is in communication with the relevant departments of the Bahamian government. China will continue to support The Bahamas to defeat the virus.”

The Bahamian government’s appetite for the Chinese vaccine is unclear, but officials are keen to boost their supplies so the country can achieve herd immunity and resume normalcy. So far there have been no signals from the us that any special case is going to be made for The Bahamas despite it being the country’s closest neighbour which has not yet received US vaccines as have Canada and Mexico.

Mr Yin said, ultimately, a request for vaccines must come from the Bahamian government.

China’s outreach to countries like The Bahamas comes as observers wait to see what the United States will do with its supplies of vaccines. Last month, the White House announced the US will share up to 60 million of its Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries and that the doses will be exported in the coming months after a federal review.

China’s willingness to directly share vaccines with The Bahamas comes as good news continues to emerge about the benefits fully vaccinated people could enjoy.

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