Chinese Vaccine Research Articles

Media debates about China’s role as a global public goods supplier: frame contestation in reporting on the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine

This study examines different and even conflicting media frames for the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine as a global public good. Through a standardised content analysis approach examining media frames for the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine across three media outlets, the study reveals that Chinese media emphasise the safety and efficacy of their vaccines, highlighting their benefits for the international community. Conversely, the US and German media express apprehensions about China’s ‘vaccine diplomacy’ and perceive it as a political threat. Notably, Germany exhibits a relatively softer stance in this context, implying the existence of various attitudes and behaviours within the US and Europe in terms of coping with China’s rising influence. This case reflects the ongoing competition between superpowers, with the ‘China Threat Theory’ and the ‘China Responsibility Theory’ representing two major ideas dominating international discourse about China. China’s identity as a global public goods supplier in the context of the global pandemic may not make it more acceptable as a responsible great power, but rather, create more Western anxieties over China’s threat to the liberal international order.

From obligation to action: unraveling the roles of social responsibility and prosocial tendency in shaping Chinese doctors' vaccine hesitancy.

The hesitation of healthcare professionals towards vaccines is becoming increasingly concerning, potentially undermining public confidence in vaccination programs. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social responsibility, Prosocial tendency, and vaccine hesitancy among Chinese doctors, and to identify demographic factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 976 Chinese doctors. Participants completed a questionnaire to assess their sense of social responsibility, Prosocial tendency, and vaccine hesitancy. Demographic information, including age, gender, and marital status, was also collected. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the main variables. Social responsibility was negatively correlated with vaccine hesitancy (r=-0.564, P<0.01) and positively correlated with Prosocial tendency (r=0.519, P<0.01). Prosocial tendency was negatively correlated with vaccine hesitancy (r=-0.505, P<0.01) and partially mediated the relationship between social responsibility and vaccine hesitancy. Younger age, female gender, and unmarried status were associated with higher levels of vaccine hesitancy. This study emphasized the important role of social responsibility and Prosocial tendency in reducing vaccine hesitancy among Chinese doctors. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at fostering a strong sense of social responsibility and promoting Prosocial tendency may effectively address vaccine hesitancy in this population. Additionally, targeted interventions focusing on young, female, and unmarried doctors may be necessary.

A friend indeed to friends in need? China's trade regime and Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy

Employing newly available data on Chinese Covid-19 vaccine deliveries for a cross-section of 157 countries, we examine if China's vaccine diplomacy is driven by altruistic, enlightened self-interested motives or by purely strategic motives. According to the enlightened self-interested logic, China's vaccine supply would coincide with helping countries dependent on China for trade, i.e. its trading friends, while the strategic logic would entail providing vaccines to countries important commercially to China. In other words, the gravity of the Covid situation would be leveraged by China for strategic gain. Utilizing the logit estimator on probability of receiving vaccines from China and Tobit estimator on vaccine purchases and donations, we find that developing countries that are important to China's trade, and thereby, China's own commercial interests were less likely to get vaccines compared with countries that are more dependent on China. Furthermore, we find that countries more dependent on China are also likely to receive vaccine donations rather than purchases, suggesting that vaccine diplomacy was unlikely to be for commercial and strategic gain. Our results taken together signify that vaccine deliveries by China were not manipulated by trade interests in Beijing. The results suggest instead that China supplied vaccines to countries needing them and with whom Chinese goodwill reflects a more normal course of diplomacy—to service friends in need.

Impacts of travel duration on urban-rural resident free vaccination behavior: Chinese COVID-19 vaccine booster dose evidence

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate how the duration of travel affects the behavior of urban and rural residents regarding free COVID-19 vaccination, and provide scientific evidence for promoting free vaccination and building an immune barrier to cope with future epidemics. From August 3, 2022 to February,18,2023, A follow-up survey was conducted in urban and rural adults in four cities in China to collect information on socio-demographic factors, vaccination status and travel time for vaccination. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was deployed to measure the net difference of the enhanced vaccination rate between urban and rural residents in different traffic time distribution. A total of 5780 samples were included in the study. The vaccination rate of the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among rural residents was higher than that of urban residents with a significant P-value (69.36% VS 64.49%,p < .001). The traffic time had a significant negative impact on the COVID-19 booster vaccination behavior of urban and rural residents. There was a significant interaction between the travel time to the vaccination point and the level of trust in doctors. Travel time had a negative impact on the free vaccination behavior of both urban and rural residents. The government should optimize and expand the number of vaccination sites and enhance residents’ trust in the medical system. This is crucial for promoting free vaccination and effective epidemic management in the future.

Implicit theories of health predict influenza vaccination intention among elder Chinese: The mediating role of anticipated regret.

Receiving influenza vaccines is the most effective public health strategy to protect people against seasonal flu infection. However, influenza vaccination rates are extremely low in China. This study investigated the association between implicit theories of health and influenza vaccination intention among elder Chinese when the vaccine is free (vs not free), and examined the mediating effect of anticipated regret. The results suggested that implicit theories of health, especially incremental theory of health, significantly predicted Chinese elders' influenza vaccination intention and this relationship was mediated by anticipated regret. Implications of the current research for promoting influenza vaccination among elder Chinese and directions for future research are discussed.

Implicit theories of health predict HPV vaccination intention among young adult Chinese women: The mediating effect of consideration of future consequences and future self-continuity.

This study investigated the predicting effect of implicit theories of health on HPV vaccination intention among young adult Chinese women and its underlying mechanisms. Four-hundred and eighty-three young Chinese women adults (18-26 years old) participated this study by completing measures on implicit theories of health, consideration of future consequences, future self-continuity, and reported their HPV vaccination intention. The results demonstrated that age, whether they knew someone being diagnosed with cancer, implicit (incremental) theories of health, consideration of future consequences (CFC-Future), and future self-continuity significantly predicted young adult Chinese women's HPV vaccination intention. The predicting effect of implicit theories of health was mediated by consideration of future consequences and future self-continuity. Implications of the current research for promoting HPV vaccination among young adult women and directions for future research are discussed.

Sociodemographic determinants of vaccination and willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccines in Hungary, results of a cross-sectional online questionnaire

BackgroundSeveral different coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines were authorized and distributed all over the world, including Hungary, but vaccination rates and acceptance of the different vaccines varied through 2021 and subsequent years. In Hungary Western vaccines and the Chinese and Russian vaccines were available in early 2021. Understanding preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for the COVID-19 vaccine could provide information for policy decision making to control the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess the socio-demographic factors influencing the COVID-19 vaccination and to analyse individual preferences for the available COVID-19 vaccines in Hungary.MethodsA cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted between 25–05-2021 and 08–06-2021 exploring the vaccine acceptance and WTP for vaccination in the Hungarian general population. To assess the preferences towards the different vaccines available in Hungary at the time of the study, we used a multi-step WTP task.ResultsAltogether 2,000 respondents filled out our survey, with the average age of 49.1 (SD = 15.3), out of whom 370 respondents (18.5%) stated that they already had a COVID-19 infection. Age above 65 years, male gender, higher level of education, higher income and residence in the capital or county seats were associated with a higher probability of vaccination. The average WTP ranged from 14.2 to 30.3 EUR for the different vaccine types.ConclusionsMales, respondents with higher education and income stated a higher WTP value for all vaccines. Better socioeconomic status increased both vaccination coverage and willingness to pay for vaccines.

Hesitancy Towards COVID-19 Vaccine Among Students of Medical and Allied Health Sciences in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

To measure COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among medical and allied health sciences students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This cross-sectional survey was conducted online using Google survey platform in March 2021. Study population comprised of medical and allied health sciences students studying in medical/allied health sciences academic institutes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The web-based online link was provided to around 800 students to fill in the questionnaire via email, WhatsApp and/or social media network. Response rate was around 50%. The main outcome variable was vaccine hesitancy. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were explored by bivariate and multivariate regression analysis. Out of 398 medical and allied health sciences students, there were 193 (48.5%) males and 205 (51.5%) females with mean age was 22.6± 2.8 years. The vaccine hesitancy rate was found to be 52.8%. A significant relationship between vaccine hesitancy and gender was observed. Other factors including lack of adequate knowledge about vaccines (p < 0.001), Chinese origin of vaccines (p < 0.001), lack of knowledge that vaccination can reduce the chances of acquiring infection (p < 0.001), fear of potential side effects (p < 0.001) and hidden agenda behind free forceful vaccination (p = 0.045), were found to be main barriers or reasons responsible for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical and allied health sciences students. Important associated barriers with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy included gender, lack of information, fear of side effects, lack of trust in imported and Chinese vaccines, and perception of hidden agenda behind COVID-19 vaccination.

Heritage and hesitancy: how preference for traditional Chinese medicine influences vaccine attitudes.

Vaccine hesitancy, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a pressing public health challenge. This study investigates the association between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preference and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within China. The study uses data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) (N = 2,690). Logistic regressions and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method are employed to analyzed the relationship between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy. The study reaffirms prior findings by revealing a robust and stable association between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy, which remains unaffected by socioeconomic and demographic confounders, as well as institutional trust dynamics of healthcare system. Contrary to expectations, TCM enthusiasts do not exhibit vaccine hesitancy based on divergent epistemological views concerning vaccine risks and immunity acquisition compared to biomedicine. This research enriches understandings of the intricate relations between healthcare paradigms and vaccine attitudes, inviting further inquiry into the role of CAM in shaping vaccination behaviors across different cultures and contexts. The insights bear significant public health implications for enhancing vaccine acceptance and coverage, particularly among populations where CAM practices wield substantial influence.

Real-world data of China: Analysis of HPV vaccine coverage and post-vaccination adverse reaction monitoring in Western Chinese provinces from 2018 to 2021

ABSTRACT To investigate the HPV vaccine coverage and post-vaccination adverse reactions in Gansu Province, Western China, from 2018 to 2021. Data on suspected adverse reactions to HPV vaccines were collected from the Chinese Vaccine Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI). Estimate the incidence rates of Common Adverse Reaction and Rare Adverse Reaction. HPV vaccine coverage among females in different age groups was calculated using data from the Gansu Provincial Immunization Information Platform. The first-dose HPV vaccine coverage rate among females aged 9 to 45 was 2.02%, with the lowest rate of less than 1% observed in females aged 9 to 14. From 2018 to 2021, the incidence rates of Common Adverse Reaction and Rare Adverse Reaction reported in females after HPV vaccination were 11.82 and 0.39 per 100,000 doses, respectively. Common Adverse Reaction included fever (5.52 per 100,000 doses), local redness and swelling (3.33 per 100,000 doses), fatigue (3.15 per 100,000 doses), headache (2.76 per 100,000 doses), as well as local induration and nausea/vomiting (1.97 per 100,000 doses). Adverse reactions mainly occurred within 1 day after vaccination, followed by 1 to 3 days after vaccination. The HPV vaccine coverage rate among females aged 9 to 14 in Gansu Province is remarkably low, and there is an urgent need to enhance vaccine coverage. From 2018 to 2021, the incidence of Adverse reaction Following Immunization HPV vaccination fell within the expected range, indicating the vaccine’s safety profile.

Vaccine Nationalism: How China's State Media Misinform about Western Vaccines and Highlight the Successes of Chinese Vaccines to Different Audiences

What motivates state-sponsored vaccine misinformation campaigns, given clear scientific evidence of vaccines' efficacy? The authors explored this issue through the lens of state-owned presses in mainland China and in Hong Kong. They first collected an original database of media reports on both Western and Chinese vaccines from 16 Chinese-language media publications based in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. They found the quantity of coverage of Western vaccines by mainland state-owned media outlets to be much less than their coverage of Chinese vaccines, reflecting the unavailability of Western vaccines in mainland China. However, applying a dictionary-based sentiment analysis, the authors found that state-owned presses in mainland China still portrayed Western vaccines negatively. In Hong Kong, where there is direct competition between Chinese and Western vaccines, they found that state-owned presses gave high coverage of both Western and Chinese vaccines but greater negative coverage of Western vaccines. These findings are consistent with a Chinese producer–oriented “vaccine nationalism” policy designed to nurture the domestic biotechnology sector.

The effects of Chinese proprietary medicine and vaccination on patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study in Macao

BackgroundCOVID-19 is continuing to ravage globally and has resulted in a huge health and financial burden. Chinese proprietary medicines, such as Lianhua Qingwen (LHQW) and Huoxiang Zhengqi (HXZQ) capsules, have been recommended for non-high-risk patients with COVID-19 in China. Based on this, we described the baseline information, using status of LHQW and HXZQ capsules and inoculation history of quarantined patients in the second half of 2022 in Macao. Additionally, we analyzed the underlying association among medicines administration, vaccination and COVID-19 indices, in order to explore novel clues for the regular control and prevention of local epidemic situation in the future.MethodsA total of 976 patients in Macao quarantine hotels from June to August 2022 were included in the present study, of which, 857 subjects were followed-up for prognosis evaluation. During quarantine, the baseline demographic information, including sex, age, BMI, occupation and personal habits were collected. Additionally, the inoculation history, medicine employment status and cycle threshold (Ct) values were also reported. We interviewed the patients for collection of their symptoms at the beginning and end of quarantine, as well as prognostic ones. Basic statistical description of baseline information, vaccination history and medication were displayed. Chi-squared test or with continuous correction test was employed for comparison of dichotomous data between two or multiple groups. Binary logistic regression was applied to reveal the correlation between potential risk factors and Ct values or prognosis symptoms. We also used Cox regression model to identify the effect of different types of vaccine products on Ct value altering rate.ResultsPatients who were female (52.0%), engaged in service industry (31.8%), from Macao native (65.8%), never took physical exercises (33.6%) and preferred irritated diet (59.5%) enjoyed more dominant proportions. Over 80% of participants were inoculated and 74.6% of them chose inactivated COVID-19 vaccine produced by China National Biotech Group (CNBG). Participants used LHQW capsules accounted for 92.1% and the duration of medicating lasted for one to two weeks. All of the reported symptoms were significantly ameliorated after quarantine and the duration of quarantine was concentrated on 21 days. People with different age, sex, occupation and region had different choices of HXZQ administration and vaccination. Additionally, middle dose (4–5 boxes) of LHQW capsules exhibited evidently negative association with positive Ct values (adjusted, − 0.037 ± 0.19, p = 0.04). Two doses of CNBG and one dose of mRNA vaccine had obvious protective effect on reducing Ct positive rate (p = 0.041). Meanwhile, symptoms after quarantine were significantly positive correlated with those in prognosis (adjusted, 1.38 ± 0.18, p < 0.0001).ConclusionOur study found that the administration of LHQW capsules was beneficial for Ct value turning negative, meanwhile, certain mixed inoculation may be the promoting factor to reduce the positive rate of Ct value. These findings provide data basis for the Chinese proprietary medicine treatment and mixed vaccination applying for prevention and control of local COVID-19 epidemic in the future.

Calling the Shots through Health Diplomacy: China’s World-Wide Distribution of Anti-Covid Vaccines and the International Order

The donation and sale of vaccines are diplomatic tools that have impact well beyond health policies. May Chinese Covid-related vaccine diplomacy be understood beyond reactive terms vis-à-vis power disputes with the West, in particularly the United States? We then scrutinize the drivers of China’s vaccine diplomacy, assessing whether Beijing privileged the expansion of its diplomatic leverage in the Global South. By employing logit and tobit models in the analysis of a cross-sectional dataset covering 213 countries, we examine the probability of countries receiving vaccines from China. We find that low-income states, in particular, and middle-income ones and those with more Covid deaths were more likely to receive vaccines through either donations or purchases. For donations, states that integrate the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and/or oppose the United States at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) were also privileged. China’s vaccine diplomacy has therefore a twofold purpose. First, the expansion of the country’s soft power in the Global South. Second, the consolidation of the BRI bilateral ties and an anti-US allied network. Hence, current global health initiatives cannot be detached from debates on the contestation of the liberal international order (LIO) and China’s dual role as a responsible stakeholder and most successful emerging power that has the potential to challenge American hegemony. Moreover, the findings also suggest that bilateral donor-recipient flows may be less politicized than what prior works on development aid and health diplomacy have claimed.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Chinese Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines against the Delta Variant in the Nanjing Outbreak: A Cohort Study

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Chinese Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines against the Delta Variant in the Nanjing Outbreak: A Cohort Study

Soft Power and Vaccine Diplomacy: An Analysis of China's Global Image Enhancement during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified global rivalries. The US blamed China for the viral outbreak in Wuhan. Many in the US, including former President Trump and his aides, called the Coronavirus the “Chinese Virus” or the “Wuhan virus,” raising anti-Chinese sentiments in the West. At the same time, Beijing sought to use this opportunity to practice its vaccine diplomacy to shore up its international stature as a world power amid the pandemic. In this pursuit, China provided vaccines and personal protective equipment (PPEs) as global public goods, particularly to the global South. Using both primary and secondary sources and relying on a mixed approach for data analysis, this paper analyzes the effectiveness of China’s vaccine diplomacy during Covid-19. It explores China’s use of soft power through social media, including infodemics and ‘twiplomacy’ to bolster its image. The article also assesses the role of China’s ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ that manipulated the facts to advance its propaganda. Conclusively, this paper argues that Chinese vaccine diplomacy served as an effective tool to enhance China’s global image as a responsible great power, albeit undermined through tactics such as the manipulation of information.

Chinese Americans' Information Sources on, Preferred Types of, and Satisfaction with COVID-19 Vaccination.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 87% of Asian Americans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of July 2023. The purpose of this study is to identify the sources of information, preferred vaccine types, and levels of satisfaction related to COVID-19 vaccination among Chinese Americans, the largest subgroup of Asian immigrants living in the U.S. Our survey data were collected from 241 Chinese American early adopters of the COVID-19 vaccine, who completed at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in June 2021. Our results indicated that their major information sources regarding COVID-19 vaccination included health officials and authorities, local news, family/friends/co-workers, social media platforms, and healthcare professionals. More than half of the participants expressed a preference for the Pfizer-BioNTech (New York, U.S.) vaccine based on the primary considerations of safety, efficacy, credibility of the developer, and availability. A majority of the participants felt satisfied with their experience of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Participants with higher levels of self-efficacy and subjective norms related to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine were more likely to express satisfaction with the vaccination. These findings provide valuable insights into Chinese Americans' information sources, vaccine preferences, and satisfaction levels regarding COVID-19 vaccination. This knowledge can help guide future vaccination interventions and campaigns.

The effect of Chinese vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19 in the Philippines and Vietnam: a multiple case study from a soft power perspective

Vaccine diplomacy is a subset of global health diplomacy and refers to the use and delivery of vaccines to achieve a country’s global health goals and foreign policy objectives. Countries have used vaccine diplomacy to increase their soft power during the COVID-19 pandemic. China, an emerging world power, was no exception in this trend. By December 2022, China had dispatched 1.65 billion vaccines worldwide; approximately one-third of the Chinese vaccines were sent to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. China attempted to increase its soft power via vaccine diplomacy to appeal to its neighbours with which it has long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea (SCS). Focusing on two key claimants in the SCS, our study has the following research question: How effective was Chinese COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy in the Philippines and Vietnam from a soft power perspective? Through a qualitative multiple case study research design, we determined the effectiveness of Chinese vaccine diplomacy in the Philippines and Vietnam by using four indicators of soft power: public opinion, foreign policy, attractiveness, and business and trade. Data collection consisted of a literature search of academic literature and newspaper articles that were published between 26 May and 13 June 2022. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the data. Analysing the effectiveness of Chinese vaccine diplomacy based on the four indicators of soft power, our results show that only the indicators of attractiveness in Vietnam and business and trade in the Philippines have somewhat improved. In contrast, the indicators of public opinion and foreign policy showed neutral or negative results for China. This study concludes that Chinese vaccine diplomacy in the Philippines and Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic was unsuccessful from a soft power perspective. One reason is that China undermined its soft power approach by simultaneously using hard power tactics in Southeast Asia. Using vaccine diplomacy to increase soft power is not always desirable from a global health perspective. Instead, countries should focus on equitable vaccine access and address asymmetrical power relations.

Cross-reactive antibody response to Monkeypox virus surface proteins in a small proportion of individuals with and without Chinese smallpox vaccination history

BackgroundAfter the eradication of smallpox in China in 1979, vaccination with the vaccinia virus (VACV) Tiantan strain for the general population was stopped in 1980. As the monkeypox virus (MPXV) is rapidly spreading in the world, we would like to investigate whether the individuals with historic VACV Tiantan strain vaccination, even after more than 40 years, could still provide ELISA reactivity and neutralizing protection; and whether the unvaccinated individuals have no antibody reactivity against MPXV at all.ResultsWe established serologic ELISA to measure the serum anti-MPXV titer by using immunodominant MPXV surface proteins, A35R, B6R, A29L, and M1R. A small proportion of individuals (born before 1980) with historic VACV Tiantan strain vaccination exhibited serum ELISA cross-reactivity against these MPXV surface proteins. Consistently, these donors also showed ELISA seropositivity and serum neutralization against VACV Tiantan strain. However, surprisingly, some unvaccinated young adults (born after 1980) also showed potent serum ELISA activity against MPXV proteins, possibly due to their past infection by some self-limiting Orthopoxvirus (OPXV).ConclusionsWe report the serum ELISA cross-reactivity against MPXV surface protein in a small proportion of individuals both with and without VACV Tiantan strain vaccination history. Combined with our serum neutralization assay against VACV and the recent literature about mice vaccinated with VACV Tiantan strain, our study confirmed the anti-MPXV cross-reactivity and cross-neutralization of smallpox vaccine using VACV Tiantan strain. Therefore, it is necessary to restart the smallpox vaccination program in high risk populations.

Undermining U.S. reputation: Chinese vaccines and aid and the alternative provision of public goods during COVID-19

Undermining U.S. reputation: Chinese vaccines and aid and the alternative provision of public goods during COVID-19

The impact of covid-19 vaccination on stock markets: a comparative analysis of the USA and China

ABSTRACT This study aimed to reveal the emergence of the vaccine against COVID-19 and its influence on the stock markets. In line with this purpose, this study seeks answers to some questions, whether vaccination supports the recovery of financial markets or not, and in which direction the effect is similar in the context of developed and developing countries, considering the United States and China samples. Fourier-based cointegration and causality tests were used to reveal the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on stock markets in the paper, which used daily data between March-2021 and September-2022. According to the results vaccination rates triggered the stock market prices in the U.S.A.. Moreover obtained findings show that the Chinese stock market and COVID-19 vaccination act together in the long term during the data range examined. Finally, it seems possible to state that it would be beneficial for investors investing in both the U.S.A. and China markets.