中國疫苗獲油國認可 多元選擇抗富國包攬

<轉載自2020年12月10日 明報 社評>

中國國藥集團研發的一款新冠疫苗，獲阿聯酋批准註冊上市，當地衛生部門覆核臨牀測試數據，確認國藥疫苗有效率為86%。阿聯酋抗疫表現在中東相對理想，病毒檢測率更位居全球最前列，國藥在當地的第三期臨牀測試，超過3萬人參與，今次是首度有關於中國新冠疫苗有效率的分析結果，詳細數據有待阿聯酋和國藥進一步交代，惟以阿聯酋抗疫之積極，沒理由假設當地衛生部門審視兒戲，阿聯酋對國藥疫苗投下信心一票，有利中國新冠疫苗爭取更多國家認可。「疫苗政治」明年將主導全球，勾心鬥角和抹黑操作勢將此起彼落。歐美對非西方疫苗有很多質疑，與此同時，西方富國又大量包攬自家疫苗，窮國無從問津，唯有確保疫苗供應多元，始有機會打破這種不公平局面。

新冠疫苗研發各師各法，美國兩款核酸疫苗分別公布有效率超過九成，至於英國牛津腺病毒載體疫苗的有效率則有爭議。中國方面，內地藥廠多款新冠疫苗早前已展開緊急接種，至於正規的第三期臨牀測試亦接近尾聲，預料短期內將陸續公布結果。

內地疫情受控，感染個案太少，中國5款主力新冠疫苗的第三期臨牀測試，全都要在外國進行，例如國藥集團旗下的兩款傳統滅活疫苗，便是在阿聯酋、阿根廷等國測試。今年9月，阿聯酋已緊急授權有限使用國藥疫苗，保護當地前線醫護。及至昨天，阿聯酋政府公布，當地衛生部門已覆核過國藥疫苗提交的3期臨牀測試數據，確認有效率為86%，能夠百分之百預防中度和重度的新冠病毒病例，相關研究未發現有嚴重安全隱患，當局批准國藥新冠疫苗註冊上市，總理等10多名高官已率先接種。

國藥疫苗阿聯酋背書 港府應索取資料參考

根據世界衛生組織指引，新冠疫苗有效率若達到50%，已可收貨，最好是可以超過70%，單看數字，86%的有效率，其實已相當理想。由於阿聯酋政府昨天只是公布分析結果，解釋批准註冊和上市的決定，有關國藥疫苗臨牀測試的細節仍待公布，西方輿論紛紛針對這一點，投以懷疑目光，然而可以肯定的是，阿聯酋對國藥新冠疫苗很有信心。當地阿布扎比政府同日宣布，將於兩周內恢復所有經濟和旅遊活動，反映當局對控疫前景相當樂觀。

阿聯酋人口約1000萬，累計約有18萬人確診，在中東已屬偏低。阿聯酋病毒檢測很落力，迄今做了近1800萬次，若不計算人口只得數十萬的迷你國家，當地病毒檢測比例之高冠絕全球。阿聯酋作為中東產油國，既與中國友好，跟西方關係亦不差，跟任何一方採購疫苗，財力都不成問題，如果國藥疫苗不濟，看不到阿聯酋有何原因一定要為它說好話，遑論用它來保護國民；以阿聯酋的抗疫表現，外界亦無理由隨便質疑當地政府的決定，攙雜了無關科學的考慮。美國兩款核酸疫苗均需低溫冷藏，物流和儲存有很多限制，本港防疫專家亦明言，輝瑞疫苗難在港應用，相比之下，國藥疫苗屬傳統滅活疫苗，生產、保存和運輸方便得多。國藥疫苗率先得到阿聯酋背書，對於爭取其他地方認可採用內地新冠疫苗，有積極作用。港府應向阿聯酋和國藥方面索取疫苗資料，深入了解。

疫苗保障須多元 富國包攬不健康

西方國家對中國新冠疫苗多有懷疑，面對透明度不足等批評，最有力的回應方法，當然是開誠布公，適時公布數據。與此同時，疫苗國際政治山雨欲來，輿論公關戰勢必風起雲湧，暗箭亦不能不防。疫苗民族主義有兩層次，一是包攬囤積疫苗，二是唱好自家疫苗踩低別人，不排除個別國家會設法打擊別國疫苗公信力，務求令世人認為「可靠疫苗」只此一家、捨我其誰。當然，各國疫苗商可以提供數據，尋求世衛認證，可是這個過程至少要大半年，疫苗國際政治已足以掀起驚天動地變化。

平情而論，各國的新冠疫苗研發，全都壓縮了慣常程序，很多關鍵問題，諸如疫苗效力有多久、對不同人種或群組的保護效力會否參差等，全都未有明確答案；臨牀測試未見重大副作用，也不代表廣泛接種一定不會出問題。舉例說，美英當局甫確認輝瑞疫苗安全有效，即有消息傳出，有參與臨牀測試者在注射第二劑後有「強烈徵狀反應」，莫德納疫苗亦有類似情况，英國當局警告，有「嚴重過敏反應」病歷者不應接種輝瑞疫苗。

疫情肆虐全球，需要各國放下成見和私利，同心協力，多管齊下應對，然而當前富國包攬疫苗的情况，卻相當令人擔心。由多個國際民間團體組成的人民疫苗聯盟批評，富國包攬疫苗情况嚴重，已預購的新冠疫苗（以兩劑為一單位），平均是全國人口的3倍，加拿大更達到5倍。富國佔全球人口僅14%，卻已預購了過半數熱門疫苗。最近美國麻省大學一項人工智能演算研究指出，有迹象顯示，輝瑞、莫德納等疫苗，對亞裔和黑人的保護可能不及白人。凡此種種皆說明，新冠疫苗的種類和供應必須多元，否則全球很多民眾將無法得到妥善保護，甚至沒有機會接種，中國疫苗可以爭取填補這一空白。

More vaccine choice against rich country monopoly

According to the World Health Organisation's guidelines, a COVID-19 vaccine is deemed acceptable if it has an efficacy rate of 50%, and it is preferable if it is over 70%. Judging by the figures merely, an efficacy rate of 86% is in fact very respectable. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government announced only the results of the analysis yesterday (December 9) and explained its decision to approve the registration of the vaccine and its release onto the market, and the details of the clinical trials of Sinopharm's vaccine have yet to be announced. Because of that, there is much scepticism from Western observers. But what is certain is that the UAE has great confidence in Sinopharm's vaccine. On the same day, the government of Abu Dhabi announced that all economic and tourist activities would resume within two weeks, reflecting its optimism about the prospects of controlling the pandemic.

The UAE has a population of about 10 million, with a total of about 180,000 confirmed cases. By the standards of the Middle East, this is a relatively low percentage. The UAE has put in a lot of effort in conducting virus testing. So far nearly 18 million viral tests have been conducted. This is the highest percentage of virus tests in the world if petty states with a population of a few hundred thousand are excluded. As an oil producer in the Middle East, the UAE is friendly with China and has good relations with the West, and it has no financial difficulties in purchasing vaccines from either side. If Sinopharm's coronavirus vaccine does not work, there is no reason why the UAE should speak up for it, let alone using it to protect its citizens. Given the UAE's performance against the pandemic, there is no reason for outsiders to arbitrarily question the government's decision with considerations irrelevant to scientific evidence.

In all fairness, the development of COVID-19 vaccines in different countries has all involved compressed routine procedures. Many critical questions, such as for how long the vaccine will remain effective and whether the protection will vary according to ethnicity or community, have not been answered definitely. Even if severe side effects were not reported during clinical trials, it does not mean that mass vaccination will definitely be safe. For example, as soon as the US and UK authorities confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine was safe and effective, word got out that some participants in clinical trials had ''severe adverse reactions'' after the second dose, which was also the case with the Moderna vaccine. The UK authorities have warned that people with a history of ''severe allergic reactions'' should not receive the Pfizer vaccine.

The People's Vaccine Alliance, which consists of international civil organisations, criticised the high level of vaccine monopoly in rich countries. On average, these nations have ordered three times as many vaccines (two doses per unit) as their populations. Canada has even ordered five times as many. Rich countries, which account for only 14% of the world's population, have pre-ordered more than half of the most popular vaccines. A recent study by MIT, conducted with the help of artificial intelligence algorithms, indicates that vaccines such as Pfizer's and Moderna's may not protect Asians and blacks as effectively as they do whites. All this means that there must be a diversity of COVID-19 vaccines and supplies, or many people around the world will not be properly protected or even have access to vaccines. Chinese vaccines can strive to fill this gap.

中國疫苗獲油國認可 多元選擇抗富國包攬

根據世界衛生組織指引，新冠疫苗有效率若達到50%，已可收貨，最好是可以超過70%，單看數字，86%的有效率，其實已相當理想。由於阿聯酋政府昨天只是公布分析結果，解釋批准註冊和上市的決定，有關國藥疫苗臨牀測試的細節仍待公布，西方輿論紛紛針對這一點，投以懷疑目光，然而可以肯定的是，阿聯酋對國藥新冠疫苗很有信心。當地阿布扎比政府同日宣布，將於兩周內恢復所有經濟和旅遊活動，反映當局對控疫前景相當樂觀。

阿聯酋人口約1000萬，累計約有18萬人確診，在中東已屬偏低。阿聯酋病毒檢測很落力，迄今做了近1800萬次，若不計算人口只得數十萬的迷你國家，當地病毒檢測比例之高冠絕全球。阿聯酋作為中東產油國，既與中國友好，跟西方關係亦不差，跟任何一方採購疫苗，財力都不成問題，如果國藥疫苗不濟，看不到阿聯酋有何原因一定要為它說好話，遑論用它來保護國民；以阿聯酋的抗疫表現，外界亦無理由隨便質疑當地政府的決定，攙雜了無關科學的考慮。

平情而論，各國的新冠疫苗研發，全都壓縮了慣常程序，很多關鍵問題，諸如疫苗效力有多久、對不同人種或群組的保護效力會否參差等，全都未有明確答案；臨牀測試未見重大副作用，也不代表廣泛接種一定不會出問題。舉例說，美英當局甫確認輝瑞疫苗安全有效，即有消息傳出，有參與臨牀測試者在注射第二劑後有「強烈徵狀反應」，莫德納疫苗亦有類似情况，英國當局警告，有「嚴重過敏反應」病歷者不應接種輝瑞疫苗。

由多個國際民間團體組成的人民疫苗聯盟批評，富國包攬疫苗情况嚴重，已預購的新冠疫苗（以兩劑為一單位），平均是全國人口的3倍，加拿大更達到5倍。富國佔全球人口僅14%，卻已預購了過半數熱門疫苗。最近美國麻省理工學院一項人工智能演算研究指出，有迹象顯示，輝瑞、莫德納等疫苗，對亞裔和黑人的保護可能不及白人。凡此種種皆說明，新冠疫苗的種類和供應必須多元，否則全球很多民眾將無法得到妥善保護，甚至沒有機會接種，中國疫苗可以爭取填補這一空白。