China Turns To New Vaccines As It Eases 'COVID Zero' Restrictions

But Could Infections Top 1bn?

In a significant policy shift and following recent public unrest, China now appears to be moving away from its strict "COVID Zero" restrictions to salvage a floundering economy hard hit by repeated lockdowns, as part of which it is looking to accelerate the approval of new vaccines and increase vaccination rates in the elderly.

Beijing relies on mass PCR testing to contain virus spreading in Nov. 2022
China further eases COVID Zero policy, approves new vaccines • Source: Shutterstock

Just when everyone was expecting something significant to happen, China has now disclosed a new set of 10 rules to further ease its draconian "COVID Zero" policies. Part of the new approach, which follows recent public unrest, will involve the approval of more effective vaccines and increasing vaccination of the elderly population in particular. 

Issued on 7 December, the new rules allow people to travel domestically without having to present a green "health code" on a mobile phone app. They also halt the need for mass nucleic acid testing, which has been a key component of the COVID Zero approach so far

More from China

More from Asia