China Approves Second Non-injectable Covid-19 Vaccine

What’s new: China granted emergency approval for a second non-injectable Covid-19 vaccine as the country battles a surge in cases while easing its stringent “zero-Covid” disease-control policy.

A product developed by Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprises Co. Ltd. (603392.SH) together with the University of Hong Kong and Xiamen University won a regulatory green light, the company said Monday. The vaccine is delivered via syringe through a special tip designed to produce a mist.

The nasal spray vaccine was among four new Covid inoculations approved Sunday and Monday by the National Medical Products Administration and the second non-injectable vaccine cleared for mainland use.

The administration approved an inhaled vaccine in September developed by CanSino Biologics Inc. Convidecia Air is an inhaled version of the company’s one-shot Convidecia vaccine.

The background: China’s top epidemic control body recently urged local governments to speed up vaccination of the elderly, who have a higher risk of developing severe illness from Covid.

China’s elderly vaccination rate is lower than the national level. As of Monday, 76.6% of seniors over 80 years old had received at least one dose, and 65.8% had received two, a health official said Tuesday. The numbers for those over 60 stood at 90.68% for one shot and 86.42% for two.

Meanwhile, China’s booster vaccination campaign is slowing. The country began offering booster shots to residents in the second half of 2021. The booster rate rose to 40.1% in February and reached 55% in July. As of Oct. 7, the booster rate was 57%.

Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. To read the full story in Chinese, click here.

Contact reporter Denise Jia (huijuanjia@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)

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