China rushes to improve shots as unvaccinated give cold shoulder

Many in emerging countries avoid Sinovac and Sinopharm jabs

20210827N Vietnam

Vietnam has decided to allow people to decline Chinese vaccines.  © Reuters

YUICHI SHIGA, NAOYUKI TOYAMA and SHIN WATANABE, Nikkei staff writers

MANILA/SAO PAULO/DALIAN, China -- Crowds thronged to a pharmacy in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo on Sunday, eager to receive Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. Many quickly left as soon as it ran out, turning down the Chinese-developed Sinovac shots the store had in abundance.

A lack of confidence in Chinese vaccines worries officials in Beijing, which has offered shots to many Southeast Asian and South American nations as part of its diplomatic charm offensive.

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