Brady Collins
China has been at the forefront of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with its scientists racing to develop a vaccine. In July 2020, it was reported that the head of China's CDC, Gao Fu, had been injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine. At the time, China was exploring eight vaccine candidates, more than any other country. While China has been accused of spreading doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus, its own vaccine candidates have shown promising results in animal trials, with studies indicating that they are safe and effective. However, China has also been accused of attempting to steal coronavirus vaccine research from the US, with American officials declaring that their scientists will develop a vaccine first and share it with the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of vaccine candidates | 8 |
| Animal testing | Proven safe and effective |
| Human testing | In progress |
| Espionage | Suspected of stealing US research |
| Conspiracy theories | Spreading doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines |
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What You'll Learn
China explored eight potential vaccines
China has been actively exploring eight potential vaccines for the coronavirus, more than any other country in the world. This fact was revealed by Dr Gao Fu, the head of China CDC, who also admitted to receiving one of the experimental vaccines. Dr Fu did not disclose which vaccine he took, as he did not want to be accused of "doing some kind of propaganda". He did, however, state that he took the vaccine to encourage the Chinese public that it is safe once approved.
Chinese companies have invested heavily in a tried-and-true technology for their vaccines. This technology involves creating an "inactivated" vaccine by growing the coronavirus in a lab and then killing it, similar to how polio shots are made. Two prominent Chinese companies, SinoPharm and CanSino Biologics, have been at the forefront of vaccine development. SinoPharm has been under scrutiny for its controversial methods, including allegedly administering vaccines to 30 "special volunteers" before receiving approval for human trials. The company cited the spirit of sacrifice as a justification for its actions.
In contrast, CanSino Biologics received special approval from the Chinese government for the military to use its experimental vaccine even before completing the final testing phase. This shortcut raised concerns about the violation of ethical norms and clinical research regulations. Despite these controversies, China remains a strong contender in the global race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, with its cost-effective approaches and diverse range of potential vaccines.
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Head of China CDC takes an experimental vaccine
China has been exploring eight potential vaccines for the coronavirus, the most of any country. In July 2020, the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, revealed that he had been injected with one of the experimental vaccines.
Gao Fu disclosed this information in a webinar hosted by Alibaba Health, an arm of the Chinese e-commerce giant, and Cell Press, an American publisher of scientific journals. He stated, "I'm going to reveal something undercover: I am injected with one of the vaccines. I hope it will work." Gao Fu's intention behind taking the vaccine was to encourage the Chinese public to follow suit once a vaccine is approved. He did not specify which of the potential treatments he had taken, explaining that he did not want to be accused of "doing some kind of propaganda" for a particular company.
Gao Fu's revelation came at a time when China was facing heightened geopolitical tensions and striving to overcome years of drug scandals. The country recalled a rabies vaccine in 2018 and later announced that batches of children's DPT vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus were ineffective. Additionally, Gao Fu had been under scrutiny for the China CDC's initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
Amid the global race for a vaccine, China's CDC is now considering potential immunization programs, debating whether to prioritize children, the elderly, or healthcare workers. While China leads in the number of vaccine candidates, companies like Pfizer and BioNTech from the US and Germany, respectively, have also announced advanced trials for their potential vaccines.
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China spreads doubt about Western vaccines
China has been accused of spreading doubt about the effectiveness of Western COVID-19 vaccines and their origins. This comes as a World Health Organization (WHO)-selected team of scientists arrived in Wuhan, China, to investigate the origins of the virus. Chinese officials have been pushing fringe theories and conspiracy theories about the pandemic's origins, which some experts say could be harmful to public health.
State media and officials have been calling for investigations into the deaths of a group of elderly people in Norway who recently received the Pfizer vaccine. Chinese officials have also been stoking concerns about the safety of the Pfizer vaccine, with the director of the Chinese CDC, Gao Fu, claiming that he could not rule out negative side effects from mRNA vaccines. Chinese media have also continued to spread the theory that the virus emerged from a "US germ warfare lab".
These actions are seen as an attempt to deflect criticism of China's early handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote its own vaccines. The Chinese government has been facing growing questions about its vaccines and renewed criticism of its initial response to the outbreak. China is exploring eight potential vaccines, and Fu has admitted to receiving one of these experimental vaccines.
The social media hashtag "#American's Ft. Detrick", started by the Communist Youth League, was viewed at least 1.4 billion times after a Foreign Ministry spokesperson called for a WHO investigation of the biological weapons lab in Maryland. This has been interpreted as an attempt to shift blame from the Chinese government's early mishandling of the pandemic to a conspiracy by the US.
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China tries to steal US vaccine research
China has been accused of trying to steal US vaccine research. In July 2025, the US Department of Justice announced the arrest of a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker, Xu Zewei, and his co-defendant, Zhang Yu. They were charged with a nine-count indictment for their involvement in computer intrusions, including the HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign, which compromised thousands of computers worldwide, including those of American universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting COVID-19 research.
According to court documents, Xu and his co-conspirators targeted these institutions and individuals to steal sensitive COVID-19 research data and information. The indictment alleges that the hacking was directed by the Chinese government while it simultaneously withheld information about the virus and its origins.
Chinese officials and cybersecurity experts have denied these accusations, stating that China leads in vaccine research and development and has no need to "steal" vaccines via cyberattacks. They claim that Chinese vaccine research institutes are, in fact, frequent targets of cyberattacks themselves.
Amid the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, China had announced that it was exploring eight potential vaccine candidates, and the head of China's CDC, Gao Fu, admitted to taking one of these experimental vaccines to encourage the Chinese public to trust in their safety.
While China promoted its own vaccine development efforts, it also spread doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus. Chinese state media and officials pushed conspiracy theories and called for investigations of Western research facilities, attempting to shift the blame from the Chinese government's early handling of the pandemic.
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Animal trials prove Chinese vaccine safe and effective
As of July 2020, China had eight potential vaccine candidates in the works, more than any other country in the world. The head of the China CDC, Dr. Gao Fu, revealed that he had been injected with one of the vaccines in a bid to encourage the Chinese public that it is safe. He did not disclose which treatment he had received as he did not want to be accused of "doing some kind of propaganda."
Animal trials have been a critical step in proving the safety and efficacy of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines. In one study, researchers tested a vaccine candidate on rhesus macaque monkeys and reported positive results. The vaccinated monkeys developed antibodies to the virus and showed no signs of infection after exposure to high doses of the virus. This provided early evidence that the vaccine was safe and effective, paving the way for further testing in humans.
In another study published in the journal Science, researchers tested a different vaccine candidate on mice and non-human primates. The vaccinated animals produced high levels of antibodies specific to the virus, indicating a strong immune response. Importantly, the vaccine also prevented the virus from replicating in the lungs of the animals, suggesting that it could protect against severe disease. These findings supported the advancement of this vaccine candidate into human clinical trials.
The results from these animal trials were encouraging and provided a strong foundation for further evaluation of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine candidates. However, it is important to note that animal studies are just one part of the vaccine development process. Clinical trials in humans are necessary to fully assess the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine before it can be approved for widespread use.
While China has been at the forefront of vaccine development, it has also been accused of spreading doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus. As the pandemic unfolded, Chinese state media and officials promoted conspiracy theories, particularly as a World Health Organization team arrived in Wuhan to investigate the virus's origins. Despite this, the collaborative efforts of scientists worldwide, including those in China, have been instrumental in the development of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19.
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Frequently asked questions
China has not yet found a vaccine for coronavirus. However, in July 2020, it was reported that the country was exploring eight potential vaccines, with human trials taking place for three of the candidates.
The details of the potential vaccines are not known, and the head of China's CDC, Gao Fu, did not confirm which vaccine he had taken.
A study in July 2020 reported that one of the potential vaccines was proven safe and effective on animals.
China is spreading doubt about the effectiveness of Western vaccines and the origin of the coronavirus as a World Health Organization-selected team of scientists arrived in Wuhan to investigate the origins of the virus.
Yes, according to National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, China is likely using espionage to try and steal U.S. coronavirus vaccine research.
