China approves experimental coronavirus vaccine for aviation industry workers

Experimental coronavirus vaccines made by China will be offered to its aviation industry workers, reported Reuters on Tuesday quoting a regulatory notice. The move aims to inoculate high-risk groups against a possible resurgence of the novel coronavirus as economies reopen.

China had launched the emergency use of the vaccine in July, the country currently has four COVID-19 vaccines in the trial phase. The move intends to boost the immunity of border inspectors and medical industry workers. 

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According to the notice by China’s aviation regulator, frontlines workers at the Chinese airlines, airports, China National Aviation Fuel Group, and TravelSky Technology Limited will be provided a candidate vaccine on a voluntary basis.

The notice also adds that the Chinese aviation administration has requested the sectors mentioned to furnish a list of personal information of employees willing to take the vaccine.

The vaccination is being administered “in response to a possible second wave of infections erupting in the fall and winter, and to the huge pressure facing our work of preventing imported cases as western countries reopen despite the pandemic.”

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At least two experimental vaccines have been approved for usage in China, which are Sinovac Biotech Ltd and the China National Biotec Group.

While no vaccine has yet passed the final, large-scale trial, Russia has already launched the first registered vaccine against COVID-19 called Sputnik V. The novel coronavirus, which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has already affected more than 26 million people and has killed more than 860,000.