Xian Under Lockdown, mRNA Vaccines Remain Elusive In China

Domestic Shot May Need Two Boosters Vs Omicron

A relatively large outbreak in another major Chinese city after original epicenter Wuhan heightens the urgency for a more effective mRNA vaccine.

XIAN A VIBRANT CITY IN CHINA ENCOUNTERS STRICT LOCKDOWN AFTER WUHAN IN JAN 2020
XIAN IN SEPTEMBER 2021 BEFORE THE STRICTEST LOCKDOWN AFTER WUHAN IN JANUARY 2020 • Source: Brian Yang/Scrip

Xi'an, a city of 13 million people in Northeastern China, is under strict lockdown amid a regional COVID-19 outbreak, the worst in the country since January 2020 when similarly-sized Wuhan was placed under drastic restrictive measures.

Most immediately, the move has hit hard those in the city seeking healthcare and medical emergency services. In one publicized...

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