INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China has made significant progress in vaccine development and immunization, marked by a growing portfolio of domestically produced vaccines
and remarkable public health results.These achievements were highlighted at the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference, which was held
over the weekend in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, and attended by nearly 3,000 public health officials and medical
professionals.Over the past years, China has achieved notable breakthroughs in vaccine technology
Milestones include the successful development of homegrown HPV and Ebola vaccines as well as advances in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines
against 13 types of bacteria and shingles vaccines.Several Chinese vaccines have received prequalification from the World Health
Organization, enabling their distribution in partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative.These advancements underscore a broader shift
in China's vaccine industry from focusing primarily on domestic needs to increasingly contributing to the global vaccine supply chain,
according to Wang Yunfu, head of the Health Commission of Hubei Province.The global biotechnology landscape has also helped accelerate this
transformation, as the participants pointed out
In recent years, breakthroughs in technologies, such as mRNA platforms, viral vectors and nanoparticle delivery systems, have opened up
unprecedented opportunities for vaccine research and development, significantly improving both efficiency and immune response.Alongside
scientific innovation, China has placed strong emphasis on safety and regulatory oversight
In 2019, it became the first country to implement a comprehensive vaccine administration law, followed by updated immunization standards
introduced in 2023.A nationwide traceability system has been set up, ensuring that every dose can be tracked from production to
administration, enhancing transparency and public trust.China's national immunization programs have yielded strong public health results.The
country achieved polio-free status in 2000, eliminated neonatal tetanus by 2012, and has reported no locally transmitted diphtheria cases
The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among children under five declined from nearly 10 percent in 1992 to just 0.3 percent in
2020.Routine vaccination coverage has remained above 90 percent nationwide, supported by an extensive healthcare infrastructure that ensures
every township has at least one vaccination unit.Efforts to expand access and improve service delivery remain a central priority
"Public health should be protected through more accessible and higher-quality vaccine services," said Li Bin, president of the Chinese
Preventive Medicine Association, adding that this goal was reflected in the conference's theme.For example, in Hubei, girls aged 14 are now
eligible for free HPV vaccination, and immunization for newborns is being integrated into the birth registration process to ensure early and
timely coverage.Looking ahead, China is preparing to refine its immunization strategy and services further.Health authorities are
considering dynamic adjustments to the national immunization program to prioritize vaccines with high cost-effectiveness or those associated
In some regions, pilots may allow the use of personal health insurance accounts to cover non-mandatory vaccines, reducing out-of-pocket
expenses for the public.Digital tools will also play an increasing role in modernizing immunization services
Electronic vaccination records are being shared across provinces, while artificial intelligence (AI) is assisting with appointment
Big data platforms are improving vaccine inventory management and logistics.Yin Zundong, head of the Immunization Program Center at the
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the role of advanced data technologies."With the help of big data and AI,
disease surveillance and early warning systems can become more accurate and efficient," Yin said
"In the future, data-driven tools will enable precise assessments of vaccine protection efficacy."
