Beijing: The Chinese authorities are rushing to push our vaccines to combat the ongoing new wave of the coronavirus that is expected to reach its peak in June and infect as many as 65 million people weekly. Since the new XBB variants of the virus are evolving, China has given approval to the two new vaccinations for the XBB varinats.
China’s abrupt departure from its zero covid policy last year was expected to develop its native’s immunity. Speaking at the biotech symposium, leading Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said that three to four other vaccines will also receive approval, but gave no other information.
Earlier on Monday, World Health Organisation chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that the world should be prepared for a future virus that could be even deadlier than COVID-19. Speaking at the annual health assembly in Geneva, he emphasized the need to prioritise negotiations aimed at preventing future pandemics.
WHO has also shortlisted names of the diseases that could cause the next deadly pandemic. While ost of the diseases are known to us- Ebola, Sars, Zika, ‘Disease X’ has raised concern.