This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/63798484

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
China Covid: How is it tackling the latest surge in cases? China Covid: How is it tackling the latest surge in cases?
(14 days later)
Hospitals in China are reported to be filling up with Covid patients after the country relaxed its lockdown rules. Hospitals in China are reported to be filling up with Covid patients after infections surged when the country relaxed its lockdown rules.
The government says it will now ramp up its vaccination programme, having immunised relatively few people until now. The government says it is ramping up its vaccination programme.
What are China's new Covid rules? What are China's Covid rules now?
Following mass protests over its controversial "zero Covid" policy, China has dropped mass testing in cities and regions where there have been outbreaks. In December, China dropped mass testing in cities and regions where there have been outbreaks.
People can now stay at home if they have mild Covid symptoms, rather than being sent to a quarantine centre. People are no longer required to go into quarantine in state facilities if they or someone they have been in contact with tests positive.
There were widespread protests against China's rigid Covid restrictionsThere were widespread protests against China's rigid Covid restrictions
Officially, China is reporting relatively low numbers of Covid cases and a tiny number of deaths. There are reports of hospitals filling up with patients and a growing demand for funeral services.
But officially, China is reporting relatively low numbers of Covid cases and a tiny number of deaths.
Because it has ended its mass testing programme, Chinese authorities no longer have reliable figures for the number of Covid infections.Because it has ended its mass testing programme, Chinese authorities no longer have reliable figures for the number of Covid infections.
However, there are anecdotal reports of hospitals filling up with patients.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked it to provide specific data on disease severity and hospital admissions.The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked it to provide specific data on disease severity and hospital admissions.
China's hospitals seem to be filling up - WHOChina's hospitals seem to be filling up - WHO
'Everyone I know is getting a fever' - Covid hits China'Everyone I know is getting a fever' - Covid hits China
Covid wave batters China's overstretched hospitalsCovid wave batters China's overstretched hospitals
The WHO has also asked for more data on vaccination rates, especially amongst vulnerable groups and those over 60 years old.
The EU has confirmed that it's ready offer surplus vaccines to China, which has so far largely relied on its own home-produced vaccines.
How many people have been vaccinated in China?How many people have been vaccinated in China?
Official figures for November suggest Chinese health authorities have now vaccinated 40% of over-80s with two jabs and a booster. Official figures for November 2022 suggest Chinese health authorities have now vaccinated 40% of over-80s with two jabs and a booster.
People in this age range are the most vulnerable to the virus.People in this age range are the most vulnerable to the virus.
This is a big improvement on China's past performance.This is a big improvement on China's past performance.
In April 2022, fewer than 50% of people aged between 70 and 79 age had received two jabs and a booster, and fewer than 20% of over-80s. In April 2022, fewer than 20% of over-80s had had two jabs and a booster.
China is now reported to have set a goal for 90% of its over-80s to receive either the initial two vaccination jabs, or both plus a booster, by the end of January.China is now reported to have set a goal for 90% of its over-80s to receive either the initial two vaccination jabs, or both plus a booster, by the end of January.
However, vaccinations alone may not be enough to halt the surge in Covid cases.However, vaccinations alone may not be enough to halt the surge in Covid cases.
Experts believe that because the Chinese population has been locked down so much, many people have not picked up "hybrid immunity".Experts believe that because the Chinese population has been locked down so much, many people have not picked up "hybrid immunity".
This means they haven't gained protection both from being vaccinated and from being exposed to the virus through other people.This means they haven't gained protection both from being vaccinated and from being exposed to the virus through other people.
Why have so few elderly people been vaccinated in China? Why have so few elderly people been vaccinated?
When China's government started rolling out vaccines in late 2020, it prioritised the working-age population.When China's government started rolling out vaccines in late 2020, it prioritised the working-age population.
It did not test its vaccines on many elderly people, and told them it could not say whether they were safe for this age group. It did not test its vaccines on many elderly people, and told them it could not say whether the jabs were safe for this age group.
The head of China's Covid expert panel, Prof Liang Wannian, says that made some people reluctant to get their jabs.The head of China's Covid expert panel, Prof Liang Wannian, says that made some people reluctant to get their jabs.
"Many old people have underlying diseases," he says. "They reckon it won't be safe to get vaccinated.""Many old people have underlying diseases," he says. "They reckon it won't be safe to get vaccinated."
Are China's Covid vaccines effective?Are China's Covid vaccines effective?
China has only used domestically-produced vaccines on its citizens: CoronaVac, made by a company called Sinovac, and Sinopharm. China has mainly used only its domestically-produced vaccines: CoronaVac, made by a company called Sinovac, and Sinopharm.
Both use parts of a dead coronavirus to expose the body to Covid and stimulate the immune system to produce virus antibodies. Both use parts of a dead coronavirus to expose the body to Covid and stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies.
A vaccine production plant in ShanghaiA vaccine production plant in Shanghai
A US study suggests that Sinovac - the more widely used of the two - is only 66% effective at protecting against Covid infection and 86.3% effective at preventing death. But studies suggest they are less effective than the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, widely used in Western countries.
Both Sinovac and Sinopharm are less effective than the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna which have been widely used in western countries. Research published in December last year, which looked at data from Singapore, found that mRNA vaccines worked better than Chinese vaccines in preventing severe illness in the over-60s.
These train the immune system to attack the spike protein on the virus - the part of the virus which infects the body's cells. These train the immune system to attack the spike protein on the virus - the part of the virus which infects the body's cells. They offer greater protection against severe disease or death.
They offer 90% protection against severe disease or death.
What do we know about China's Covid-19 vaccines?What do we know about China's Covid-19 vaccines?
Which countries use Chinese vaccines?
Since the start of the pandemic, 64 other countries have used Sinopharm and 34 have used Sinovac.
They have been especially popular in Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The Chinese vaccines can be stored in a refrigerator between 2 and 8C, while Moderna's mRNA vaccine needs to be stored at -20C, and Pfizer's at -70C.
Many developing countries use China's vaccines because they do not have the facilities to store large amounts of vaccine at such low temperatures.
Why has China not used Western Covid vaccines?Why has China not used Western Covid vaccines?
China claims to have made about half of all the world's Covid vaccine stock. China claims to have made about half of all the world's Covid vaccine stock. But the government has not given approval to foreign-produced mRNA vaccines for general use in mainland China.
The government has refused so far to approve Western mRNA vaccines for domestic use. Germany has sent doses of the Pfizer vaccine to China, but they will only be given to foreign residents. BioNTech, the German company which partnered with Pfizer to produce a Covid vaccine, has also worked with a Shanghai-based company, Fosun Pharma, to develop the same mRNA-based vaccine.
China is believed to be developing its own mRNA vaccine, but has not said when this might be available. This has been made available to German nationals living in China, and is also available in Hong Kong and Macau. However, it is not currently authorised for the Chinese mainland market.
It reportedly asked US company Moderna to give it the technology behind its mRNA vaccine, but the company declined to do so. China is reported to be developing its own mRNA vaccine, but it remains unclear how much progress has been made as the Chinese authorities have said little about it publicly.
When asked about the EU offer to send surplus stock of mRNA vaccines, a Chinese official spokesperson, Mao Ning, said that China already had an adequate supply of vaccines.
"China's Covid situation is predictable and under control," she told a news conference on 3 January.