In 2021, the Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm delivered almost ** percent of its COVID-19 vaccines to upper-middle-income countries, while lower-middle-income countries received around ** percent. While high-income countries mostly adapted the more advanced mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna or BioNTech and Pfizer, less than *** percent of Sinopharm's vaccines were delivered to low-income countries, reflecting the inequality of global vaccine distributions.

As of June 7, 2022, China had administered almost 3.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, representing around 28 percent of the 11.9 billion doses administered worldwide.

Vaccination rate

China has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world. Nevertheless, the situation varies substantially between age groups. Unlike many other regions such as Japan and western Europe, the Chinese elderly population has a lower vaccination rate than the younger generations. As of March 2022, only around half of people aged above 80 were fully vaccinated in the country, while less than 20 percent had their booster vaccinations.

The insufficient vaccination rate among the most vulnerable group of the society partially explains China’s “Zero COVID” strategy, as many fear that the healthcare service will not be able to cope with the spread of COVID-19.

Chinese vaccines

As a major partner and stakeholder of BioNTech, the German developer of Comirnaty, Chinese pharmaceutical firm Fosun Pharma secured 100 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the early days of the pandemic. Nevertheless, no mRNA vaccine received approval from the Chinese regulator and the majority of the doses secured by Fosun remained undelivered.

Sinovac and Sinopharm’s vaccines, the two most common COVID-19 vaccines in China, are both inactivated whole virus vaccines, which stimulate immune responses with killed SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite having many advantages, they are significantly less effective than mRNA vaccines in preventing symptomatic illness and are especially problematic when encountering the latest Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

As of June 4, 2022, about ** percent of people in China had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus COVID-19. There are **** vaccines available included in the public vaccination program: CanSino, Sinopharm (Beijing), Sinopharm (Wuhan), Sinovac, and ZF2001 developed by Anhui Zhifei Longcom.

Vaccines against COVID-19 have different immune response mechanisms; one of them is the humoral response, which may vary according to the type of vaccine. This study evaluated the seroconversion rate and booster effect that the bbibp-corv vaccine (Sinopharm) generated in a population of health workers with seroconversion status vs. known infection before the first dose. A total of 268 health workers were studied, 147 not previously seroconverted/infected (NSI) and 121 previously seroconverted/infected (PSI), who were vaccinated with two doses of bbibp-corv separated in 21 days. The anti-S1 and anti-N antibodies were determined before the first and second dose. After 21-30 days of the second dose, anti S1, anti RBD antibodies were dosed, and the presence of neutralizing antibodies was evaluated with cPass™. 2.72% of NSI patients did not generate Anti S1, Anti N, Anti RBD, or neutralizing Antibodies by cPass™. The humoral immune response was considerably higher in PSI patients than NSI, both in anti S1, Anti N, Anti RBD, and cPass™ antibodies. Thus, 97.5% of NSI patients seroconvert with two doses of bbibp-corv; however, the humoral immune response on them was lower than the booster effect seen on PSI, which could be related to its poor efficacy.

IntroductionA rapid increase in COVID-19 cases due to the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants in vaccinated populations has raised concerns about the hospitalization risk associated with, and the effectiveness of, COVID-19 vaccines.MethodThis case–control study aims to determine the hospitalization risk associated with the inactivated BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) and mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BionTech) vaccines, and their effectiveness reducing the rate of hospital admission between 28 May 2021 and 13 January 2022, during the Delta and Omicron outbreaks. The estimation of vaccine effectiveness of 4,618 samples was based on the number of patients hospitalized at different vaccination statuses, adjusted for confounding variables.ResultsHospitalization risk increases in patients affected with the Omicron variant if patients are aged ≤ 18 years (OR 6.41, 95% CI 2.90 to 14.17; p < 0.001), and in patients affected with the Delta variant if they are aged > 45 years (OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.21 to 5.50; p < 0.001). Vaccine effectiveness reducing the rate of hospital admission for fully vaccinated participants infected with the Delta and Omicron variants was similar for both the BBIBP-CorV (94%, 95% CI 90% to 97%; 90%, 95% CI 74% to 96%) and BNT162b2 vaccines (95%, 95% CI 61% to 99.3%; 94%, 95% CI 53% to 99%), respectively.DiscussionThe BBIBP-CorV and BNT162b2 vaccines utilized in the UAE vaccination program were highly effective in reducing the rate of COVID-19-related hospitalization during the Delta and Omicron outbreaks, and further effort must be taken to achieve high vaccine coverage rates in children and adolescents in the global context to reduce the hospitalization risk associated with COVID-19 on an international scale.

On May 21, 2023, Egypt administered 14,954 doses of the vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19). The country received its first shipment of Sinopharm vaccines in December as the first country in the African continent to receive any doses. The health minister declared the start of the vaccination program on January 24, 2021, and was set to start with medical staff as part of phase three clinical trials of the vaccine developed in China.

On January 25, 2021, 219 jabs of the vaccine developed by Sinopharm were administered. The number of daily administered doses started to increase from January 31, 2021, reaching its highest daily count on November 13, 2021. Moreover, 854,000 AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines were secured in late March 2021 via the COVAX initiative. Egypt domestically produces the Sinovac vaccine in Egypt in its state-owned vaccine production company and plans to further increase its production to become a hub for producing vaccines.

As of July 21, 2022, most countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) had received the majority of their COVID-19 vaccine stock from Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech). In Denmark, the Comirnaty vaccine accounted for 83 percent of the total COVID-19 vaccines distributed to the country. Hungary was the first country in the EEA to have received COVID-19 vaccines from Sinopharm and Sputnik V which were developed in China and Russia respectively. The current rate of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Europe can be found here. For further information about the coronavirus pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

The global enterovirus vaccine market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach $489.6 million in 2025 and exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several factors. Rising incidence of enterovirus infections, particularly in children, necessitates wider vaccination coverage. Increased government initiatives to promote vaccination programs and growing awareness about the severity of enterovirus-related diseases, such as hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and poliomyelitis, are further boosting market growth. Technological advancements in vaccine development, leading to safer and more effective vaccines, also contribute significantly. The market is segmented by virus type (Coxsackievirus A, Coxsackievirus B, Human Enterovirus 71, and others) and application (hospitals, research institutes, and others). The increasing prevalence of enterovirus infections across various regions, particularly in Asia-Pacific due to high population density and favorable climatic conditions, is fueling regional market expansion. However, high vaccine costs and challenges associated with vaccine development and distribution in underdeveloped nations could pose certain restraints to market growth in the coming years. The competitive landscape includes key players like Sinovac Biotech, Medigen Vaccine Biologics, and Sinopharm, actively engaged in research, development, and commercialization of enterovirus vaccines. The market's future trajectory will heavily depend on continued research leading to improved vaccine efficacy and safety profiles, as well as expanded access to vaccination in underserved regions. The market's growth will also be significantly influenced by evolving regulatory landscapes and public health policies related to vaccination. Further research into novel vaccine formulations, including those tailored to specific enterovirus serotypes, is likely to shape market dynamics. Successful partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and public health organizations to enhance vaccine accessibility and affordability will play a crucial role in driving wider adoption and market penetration. The strategic investments in research and development along with collaborations between governments and pharmaceutical players will lead the way to a larger market share in the years to come. The consistent increase in awareness campaigns about enteroviral infections, in conjunction with effective public health interventions, holds the key to unlocking the full potential of this growing market.

As of October 5, 2023, Austria had received 583.7 vaccine doses per 100 adults from COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, the highest delivery rate among all EEA states. Hungary was the first in the EEA to receive distribution of vaccines from Sinopharm and Sputnik V, and has received 340.6 doses per 100 population. Latvia had received 489.5 COVID-19 vaccine doses per 100 population, while so far Romania had received 140.2 doses per 100 inhabitants. The current rate of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Europe can be found here. For further information about the coronavirus pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

The geometric mean titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD-IgG antibody after two doses of vaccine against COVID-19 in vaccinees with seroconversion.

By the end of January 2022, almost ************ COVID-19 vaccine doses were manufactured in China, making the country by far the largest producer of COVID-19 vaccines globally. While most vaccines were for domestic use, a considerable portion of vaccines was exported via sales and donations, mainly to lower or middle-income countries. In comparison to western mRNA vaccines such as Comirnaty or Spikevax, inactivated COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sinovac and Sinopharm have a lower efficacy rate.

Sociodemographic, severe illness risk, and vaccine-type characteristics of study participants.

As of March 1, 2022, Egypt administered a total of 71.36 million doses of the vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19). The country was the first African nation to receive doses, in December 2020, and started its vaccination campaign on January 24, 2021, as part of phase three clinical trials of the vaccine developed in China and produced by Sinopharm. On March 31, 2021, the country received its first batch of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine via the COVAX initiative. Moreover, Egypt domestically produces the Sinovac vaccine in Egypt in its state-owned vaccine production company and plans to further increase its production to become a hub for producing vaccines.

In 2020, almost ** million doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines were approved and released in China. Sinopharm dominated the MMR vaccine market in the country, with two of its subsidiaries, Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, and Beijing Institute of Biological Products manufacturing almost ** percent of all MMR vaccines released. Measles, mumps, and rubella are common respiratory infectious diseases among children. Therefore, MMR vaccine is one of the class I vaccines with the highest lot release volume in China.

As of June 2021, the majority of Hungarian internet users trusted the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. At the same time, only 38 percent of the respondents trusted AstraZeneca and Sinopharm, respectively.

It includes: demographics: Age, sex, BMI, education year, smoking status, marital status, urban/rural residence, and employment status. Acute Phase Indicators: Peak body temperature (PBT), lowest SpO2, and duration of the acute infectious phase (days). Symptom Scales: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Fibro-Fatigue (FF) scale scores. Laboratory Biomarkers: CRP, PGE2, PAI1, glucose, insulin, HOMA2IR, HOMA2%S, NSE, S100B, galanin, GALR1, and IGF-1. This dataset underpins the study’s analysis of the associations between biomarkers, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and chronic fatigue syndrome in Long COVID patients. BMI, body mass index; PBT, peak body temperature; HAMA, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; HAMD, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; FF, Fibro-Fatigue scale; SpO2, oxygen saturation; Vaccination A, PF, S, vaccination with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Sinopharm; CRP, C-reactive protein; S100B, calcium-binding protein B; PAI1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; HOMA2IR, Homeostasis Model Assessment 2 insulin resistance index; HOMA2%S, HOMA insulin sensitivity percentage; NSE, neuron-specific enolase; IGF-1, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; GALR1, galanin receptor 1. For more information, refer to the explanatory sections in Tables 1 and 2 of the manuscript. (SAV)