The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it. The virus has spread quickly, leaving millions of people around the globe ill and tens of thousands dead. SARS-CoV-2 has upended our daily lives and created an unprecedented global health crisis. In response, pharmaceutical companies and governments have been working to develop and approve vaccines to help combat the virus.

Recently, China has approved its first-ever homegrown mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, called CoronaVac. This is the first mRNA vaccine to be approved for use in the country, joining a growing list of approved vaccines around the world.

What Is an mRNA Vaccine?

mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines are a relatively new type of vaccine. Unlike traditional vaccines, which use weakened or dead versions of viruses, the mRNA vaccine uses only the code from the virus’s genes. As soon as this code enters our cells, it instructs them to make a protein that is identical to the one found on the surface of the virus. This stimulates an immune response and teaches our body how to fight off the virus if it encounters a real virus in the future.

How Does China’s CoronaVac Work?

The CoronaVac is a two-dose vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac. It contains genetic material which instructs cells to make the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein. CoronaVac is among the first vaccines to be distributed in the country and clinical trials suggest that it’s both safe and effective.

Benefits of China’s Home Grown Vaccine

China’s homegrown vaccine comes with a number of benefits, both for the country and for the world at large.

• Affordable: CoronaVac is much more affordable than other Covid-19 vaccines, making it accessible to more people.

• Flexible: CoronaVac is much easier to store and transport than other Covid-19 vaccines and can be kept at standard vaccine refrigerator temperatures. This makes it useful for remote parts of the country and other areas with limited access to cold storage.

• Quick Production: CoronaVac’s production time is much shorter than for other Covid-19 vaccines, meaning that it can be produced much faster and distributed to people much sooner.

• Efficiency: CoronaVac is highly effective at producing a strong immune response, and this means that fewer doses are needed for immunization, reducing costs and making the vaccine more accessible.

• Homegrown: Finally, the fact that it is a homegrown vaccine means that it helps China become more self-sufficient in terms of healthcare, resisting future pandemics more effectively in the future.

The Drawbacks

While the CoronaVac has some clear benefits for the country of China, the vaccine also comes with some drawbacks, many of which are common to other types of Covid-19 vaccines.

• Long-Term Effects: It is not yet known what the long-term effects of mRNA vaccines are, as this type of vaccine is so new. Researchers are not sure if it is safe to vaccinate pregnant women or young children, and they are unsure of the vaccine’s effectiveness in the long term.

• Limited Availability: The CoronaVac is only available in China at the moment, meaning that it is not accessible to people in other parts of the world that might need it.

• Compliance: There are concerns that people in China may reject the CoronaVac due to skepticism or lack of trust in the government.

The Global Vaccine Race

The approval of CoronaVac in China marks an important moment in the global fight against Covid-19. The race to develop a first-of-its-kind mRNA vaccine is being led by the United States, with a number of other countries and pharmaceutical companies following suit. The release of the vaccine in China suggests that other countries are close to developing and releasing their own mRNA vaccines.

In the United States, Pfizer is the first mRNA vaccine to be approved for emergency use. Additionally, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccines have both been authorized for use in the country.

China has approved its first home-grown mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, the CoronaVac, marking an important step in the global fight against the virus. The vaccine is relatively affordable and easy to transport, and it produces a strong immune response with fewer doses than other vaccines. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty around its long-term effects and availability. Nonetheless, its approval is evidence that other countries are on the path to releasing their own mRNA vaccines, helping us move one step closer to ending the pandemic.