3 ms·

What do you feel the "choice" with vaccines was? So even if they overlooked the politics/"optics", I don't think they could go to the Western pharmaceutical com

by geokon 5y ago

What do you feel the "choice" with vaccines was? So even if they overlooked the politics/"optics", I don't think they could go to the Western pharmaceutical companies and just ask for 3 billion doses. With boosters it's looking like there isn't enough vaccine capacity for the world as it is. I don't think there was ever a real alternative other than a "zero covid strategy" What seems strange is that they haven't been able to quickly make an mRNA vaccine of their own. Supposedly South Africa has managed to pull it off, and I'd guess China has a much more advanced research/production capacity. Though it's also very possible it's happening and I just haven't heard of it :)

threatripper 5y ago
> I don't think they could go to the Western pharmaceutical companies and just ask for 3 billion doses. Ramping up production was a problem in the beginning but now it should not be a problem to produce enough shots to supply China. Even a single shot mRNA would improve immunity by a lot when combined with other vaccines. If China had ordered it in 2020 they would have received multiple doses per person by now. I have no idea why mRNA failed in China.
- Reason077 5y ago
  > "I have no idea why mRNA failed in China." Classic case of "not invented here" syndrome?
  - threatripper 5y ago
    That surely played a part. But by now there would have been enough time to admit defeat and just order some from Europe.
    - dismalpedigree 5y ago
      You do realize you are talking about CCP admitting defeat? Should be obvious why it hasn’t happened.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
nicoburns 5y ago
> I don't think they could go to the Western pharmaceutical companies and just ask for 3 billion doses. I wonder if they could license the technology then produce it themselves. I believe this is what India has been doing?
- ericmay 5y ago
  This user in the comment above mentions that China blocked it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30967224 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30967224 Which makes sense for the CCP. If everyone gets the western vaccine then it makes the CCP look bad.
- marcosdumay 5y ago
  Nobody would blink an eye if they just used the technology without licensing either. It's not like other countries could stop them.
maxerickson 5y ago
Pfizer/BioNTech licensed their vaccine to a Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer, the government didn't approve it: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-12/billionaire-s-bet-on-pfizer-vaccine-for-china-fails-to-pay-off https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-12/billionai... That's not quite what you describe, but they could have poured resources into manufacturing the licensed vaccine instead of outright blocking its use.

by geokon 5y ago

threatripper 5y ago

> I don't think they could go to the Western pharmaceutical companies and just ask for 3 billion doses. Ramping up production was a problem in the beginning but now it should not be a problem to produce enough shots to supply China. Even a single shot mRNA would improve immunity by a lot when combined with other vaccines. If China had ordered it in 2020 they would have received multiple doses per person by now. I have no idea why mRNA failed in China.

Reason077 5y ago
> "I have no idea why mRNA failed in China." Classic case of "not invented here" syndrome?
- threatripper 5y ago
  That surely played a part. But by now there would have been enough time to admit defeat and just order some from Europe.
  - dismalpedigree 5y ago
    You do realize you are talking about CCP admitting defeat? Should be obvious why it hasn’t happened.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]

nicoburns 5y ago

> I don't think they could go to the Western pharmaceutical companies and just ask for 3 billion doses. I wonder if they could license the technology then produce it themselves. I believe this is what India has been doing?

ericmay 5y ago
This user in the comment above mentions that China blocked it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30967224 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30967224 Which makes sense for the CCP. If everyone gets the western vaccine then it makes the CCP look bad.
marcosdumay 5y ago
Nobody would blink an eye if they just used the technology without licensing either. It's not like other countries could stop them.

maxerickson 5y ago

Pfizer/BioNTech licensed their vaccine to a Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer, the government didn't approve it: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-12/billionaire-s-bet-on-pfizer-vaccine-for-china-fails-to-pay-off https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-12/billionai... That's not quite what you describe, but they could have poured resources into manufacturing the licensed vaccine instead of outright blocking its use.