Fosun submits trial data of foreign COVID-19 vaccine for state review: sourcehttps://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1221372.shtmlFosun Pharm has submitted the clinical trial data of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine it co-developed with German BioNTech and relevant materials to China's state regulator for rolling review, a source close to Fosun told the Global Times on Sunday. This is part of China's plan to import the first foreign-made COVID-19 vaccine.
The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that the Chinese regulator is expected to approve domestic distribution of the shot within the next 10 weeks, but neither Fosun nor BioNTech would confirm the timeline to the Global Times, as the schedule is not fixed and depends on the procedure of regulators.
"The developer is in close communication with regulators to facilitate the approval process," said the source.
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Many expats living in China have wanted some foreign-made vaccines for easier recognition when they return home. China's approval, if granted, would showcase its caring for foreigners, Feng Duojia, president of the China Vaccine Industry Association, told the Global Times on Sunday.
The news source is Chinese, and the article has artifacts of being translated rather than written by a person whose first language is English.
While not noted until well into the article, developer BioNTech's
other partner is Pfizer. That BioNTech has a Chinese partner may kind of help move the approval process through Chinese bureaucracy.
This is quite a move from China's initial refusal to recognize non-Chinese vaccines. My daughter has heard from her sources in China that China will likely recognize as valid any vaccine approved by a major country (e.g. Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca/Oxford University, Johnson & Johnson). I think it was realized that only recognizing Chinese vaccines was a serious impediment to business.
On a personal level, since my daughter has received the Pfizer vaccine, all this may help her return to continue her university education in China.
