China's Covid-19 vaccine efforts moving at "war time speed"

China's vaccine makers are working "at war time speed" to lead the global Covid-19 vaccine race, Reuters reported.

The country has pulled together the military, state, and private sectors to expedite efforts to develop an effective counter to the novel coronavirus that's causing a global pandemic, and the strategy seems to be yielding results.

China's command-type policy has made it possible for state-controlled entities to finish building two state-of-the-art vaccine plants in just a few months.

Two weeks ago, the Chinese military approved a vaccine developed by its research division — in partnership with CanSino Biologics — for use by military personnel.

Three experimental vaccines have currently reached Phase 3 trials: AZD1222 from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, and two candidates from state-owned Sinopharm.

Sinovac Biotech's program is expected to be next vaccine to reach late-stage trials.