<p>Chinese mainlanders are flocking to Hong Kong and Macau for <b>Messenger RNA</b> (mRNA) vaccination&nbsp;as COVID-19 outbreak&nbsp;spreads rapidly throughout the country. This occurs at a time when China&nbsp;has not yet approved mRNA&nbsp;jabs, maufactured&nbsp;by the West, in its mainland.&nbsp;Let's take a deeper look&nbsp;at why the Chinese are rushing to Hong Kong, Macau, and even Thailand&nbsp;to purchase these really potent mRNA vaccines.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Where are the Chinese going for Covid jabs?</strong></h2>

<p>More and more Chinese are leaving the country as a result of China easing the requirement for quarantine upon arrival on the mainland.</p>

<p>Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Thailand are the most frequently visited places by these tourists, according to Trip.com Group bookings. For individuals seeking long-haul flights, the US, UK, and Australia are the top destinations, according to a report by CNN.</p>

<p>Since their nation has reopened its borders after a three-year hiatus, some people have reasons other than mere vacations to go.</p>

<p>While the mainland has held off on certifying them, Hong Kong and Macau citizens have had unfettered access to the BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA vaccine.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/china-boeing-737-max-takes-first-flight-after-staying-grounded-for-four-years-552321">China: Boeing 737 MAX takes first flight after staying grounded for four years</a></p>

<p>The first group of mainlanders arrived at Virtus Medical Centre, a private hospital in Hong Kong, on 12 January, according to Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A customer WHo spoke to Reuters said&nbsp;that she spent HK$ 1,888 ($241) for her first BioNTech COVID-19 booster dosage after receiving three doses of a domestic vaccination in China.</p>

<p>“I was very tempted to get the vaccine because of the border reopening. There is no bivalent vaccine available in mainland China,” Yoyo Liang, a 36-year-old Beijing resident, was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Reuters<em>.</em></p>

<p>As per a&nbsp;CNBC<em> </em>report, a man from Shaanxi province wrote on Weibo – China’s equivalent of Twitter – a week back, “It’s been long since I went to Hong Kong. I can take a vacation, as well as get vaccinated. Won’t this be killing two birds with one stone? Without saying further, I have made my appointment and am getting ready.”</p>

<p>In an interview with CNBC, Sam Radwan, head of the management consulting firm Enhance International, expressed his opinion that Hong Kong is the "natural first destination of Chinese vaccine tourism."</p>

<p>“It will then spread to Asia and the US, maybe extend to Europe,” he added.</p>

<p>Additionally, travel agencies like&nbsp;Easson Holdings are also providing vaccination trip packages to Hong Kong that include hotel and flight reservations as well as shuttle facilities to vaccine clinics, as reported by the Financial Times.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;China's imports, exports plunge in warning sign for economy</strong></p>

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<p>In recent months, mainland Chinese have also travelled to Macau for vaccinations.&nbsp;The Financial Times reported in late December, quoting a customer service representative at the Macau hospital, that the phone had been ringing "nonstop" since the COVID-19 infection waves in China began to pick up speed.</p>

<p>Furthermore, Singapore and Thailand are also potential destinations for mainland Chinese people&nbsp;needing Covid jabs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister stated last month that he was mulling a proposal to offer free vaccinations to foreigners who want booster doses, as per a CNBC report.</p>

<p>Since Beijing loosened its travel restrictions, Singaporean healthcare practitioners have also noticed an increase in requests from Chinese tourists for COVID-19 vaccinations.</p>

<h2><strong>How are western Covid vaccines better than Chinese home-grown&nbsp;CoronaVac?</strong></h2>

<p>In response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak, China has increased vaccine coverage, particularly among the elderly. But, these vaccines have proven ineffective, particularly during major Covid outbreaks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/about-900-million-in-china-infected-with-covid-chinese-university-study-552374">About 900 million in China infected with Covid: Chinese university study</a></p>

<p>Researchers from Hong Kong University found that CoronaVac did not work against the COVID-19 variation Omicron,&nbsp;even after two doses. On the other hand, the body was able to develop immunity to the variation after receiving two doses of Pfizer's mRNA vaccine, as reported by the&nbsp;Slate Magazine.</p>

<p>In the meanwhile, Business Insider claimed that China has stepped up attempts to create its own mRNA vaccinations despite its staunch refusal to accept mRNA vaccines made in the West.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Chinese mainlanders are flocking to Hong Kong and Macau for Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination as COVID-19 outbreak spreads rapidly throughout the country. This occurs at a time when China has not yet approved mRNA jabs, maufactured by the West, in its mainland.

Chinese mainlanders are flocking to Hong Kong and Macau for Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination as COVID-19 outbreak spreads rapidly throughout the country. This occurs at a time when China has not yet approved mRNA jabs, maufactured by the West, in its mainland. Let's take a deeper look at why the Chinese are rushing to Hong Kong, Macau, and even Thailand to purchase these really potent mRNA vaccines. Where are the Chinese going for Covid jabs? More and more Chinese are leaving the country as a result of China easing the requirement for quarantine upon arrival on the mainland. Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Thailand are the most frequently visited places by these tourists, according to Trip.com Group bookings. For individuals seeking long-haul flights, the US, UK, and Australia are the top destinations, according to a report by CNN. Since their nation has reopened its borders after a three-year hiatus, some people have reasons other than mere vacations to go. While the mainland has held off on certifying them, Hong Kong and Macau citizens have had unfettered access to the BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA vaccine. Also read | China: Boeing 737 MAX takes first flight after staying grounded for four years The first group of mainlanders arrived at Virtus Medical Centre, a private hospital in Hong Kong, on 12 January, according to Reuters. A customer WHo spoke to Reuters said that she spent HK$ 1,888 ($241) for her first BioNTech COVID-19 booster dosage after receiving three doses of a domestic vaccination in China. “I was very tempted to get the vaccine because of the border reopening. There is no bivalent vaccine available in mainland China,” Yoyo Liang, a 36-year-old Beijing resident, was quoted as saying by Reuters. As per a CNBC report, a man from Shaanxi province wrote on Weibo – China’s equivalent of Twitter – a week back, “It’s been long since I went to Hong Kong. I can take a vacation, as well as get vaccinated. Won’t this be killing two birds with one stone? Without saying further, I have made my appointment and am getting ready.” In an interview with CNBC, Sam Radwan, head of the management consulting firm Enhance International, expressed his opinion that Hong Kong is the "natural first destination of Chinese vaccine tourism." “It will then spread to Asia and the US, maybe extend to Europe,” he added. Additionally, travel agencies like Easson Holdings are also providing vaccination trip packages to Hong Kong that include hotel and flight reservations as well as shuttle facilities to vaccine clinics, as reported by the Financial Times. Also watch | China's imports, exports plunge in warning sign for economy In recent months, mainland Chinese have also travelled to Macau for vaccinations. The Financial Times reported in late December, quoting a customer service representative at the Macau hospital, that the phone had been ringing "nonstop" since the COVID-19 infection waves in China began to pick up speed. Furthermore, Singapore and Thailand are also potential destinations for mainland Chinese people needing Covid jabs. Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister stated last month that he was mulling a proposal to offer free vaccinations to foreigners who want booster doses, as per a CNBC report. Since Beijing loosened its travel restrictions, Singaporean healthcare practitioners have also noticed an increase in requests from Chinese tourists for COVID-19 vaccinations. How are western Covid vaccines better than Chinese home-grown CoronaVac? In response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak, China has increased vaccine coverage, particularly among the elderly. But, these vaccines have proven ineffective, particularly during major Covid outbreaks. Also read | About 900 million in China infected with Covid: Chinese university study Researchers from Hong Kong University found that CoronaVac did not work against the COVID-19 variation Omicron, even after two doses. On the other hand, the body was able to develop immunity to the variation after receiving two doses of Pfizer's mRNA vaccine, as reported by the Slate Magazine. In the meanwhile, Business Insider claimed that China has stepped up attempts to create its own mRNA vaccinations despite its staunch refusal to accept mRNA vaccines made in the West. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained: Why are the Chinese turning to Hong Kong and Macau for Covid jabs?

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidaRYSpnCNlvXO" /><meta charset="utf-8" />Amid fears of China kickstarting yet another cycle of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday urged Beijing to release real-time data on the prevailing situation in the country.&nbsp;“WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation," said the global health body before adding, "Including more genetic sequencing data, data on disease impact including hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths, and data on vaccinations delivered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and those over 60 years old."&nbsp;</p>

<p>WHO released the statement after a meeting with China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-alarm-over-chinas-covid-surge-travel-curbs-imposed-on-chinese-travelers-547881"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Global alarm over China's Covid surge, travel curbs imposed on Chinese travelers</strong></a></p>

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<p>WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to Twitter and reiterated that he demanded transparency from China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"My team met with #China representatives virtually to discuss the current surge in #COVID19 cases. @WHO again stressed the importance of transparency and regular sharing of data to formulate accurate risk assessments and to inform effective response."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My team met with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> representatives virtually to discuss the current surge in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> cases. <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHO</a> again stressed the importance of transparency and regular sharing of data to formulate accurate risk assessments and to inform effective response. <a href="https://t.co/FmELvtApbT">https://t.co/FmELvtApbT</a></p>
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1608948293039710208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>WHO requesting the real-time data stems from the decision by NHC which stated that it will no longer be publishing daily data on COVID-19 cases in the country.</p>

<p>"Relevant COVID information will be published by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for reference and research," said the NHC in a statement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-top-health-body-says-will-no-longer-publish-daily-covid-numbers-546408" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: China’s top health body says it will no longer publish daily Covid infection numbers&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<p>There has been a thick cloud of uncertainty regarding China's COVID-19 numbers for the last three years. While the rest of the world managed to tame the virus by being transparent, China, through its hush-hush strategy coupled with its 'zero-Covid' policy managed to keep the pandemic alive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a Bloomberg report, the minutes of an internal meeting of the NHC held earlier this month showed that 248 million people, or nearly 18 per cent of the country's population, likely contracted Covid in the first 20 days of December.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-crisis-in-china-nearly-37-million-people-may-have-been-infected-on-single-day-546078" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Leaked documents show nearly 250 million Chinese contracted Covid in December</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Amid fears of China kickstarting yet another cycle of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday urged Beijing to release real-time data on the prevailing situation in the country.

Amid fears of China kickstarting yet another cycle of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday urged Beijing to release real-time data on the prevailing situation in the country. “WHO again asked for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation," said the global health body before adding, "Including more genetic sequencing data, data on disease impact including hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths, and data on vaccinations delivered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and those over 60 years old." WHO released the statement after a meeting with China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration. WATCH | Global alarm over China's Covid surge, travel curbs imposed on Chinese travelers × WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to Twitter and reiterated that he demanded transparency from China. "My team met with #China representatives virtually to discuss the current surge in #COVID19 cases. @WHO again stressed the importance of transparency and regular sharing of data to formulate accurate risk assessments and to inform effective response." My team met with #China representatives virtually to discuss the current surge in #COVID19 cases. @WHO again stressed the importance of transparency and regular sharing of data to formulate accurate risk assessments and to inform effective response. https://t.co/FmELvtApbT — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 30, 2022 × WHO requesting the real-time data stems from the decision by NHC which stated that it will no longer be publishing daily data on COVID-19 cases in the country. "Relevant COVID information will be published by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for reference and research," said the NHC in a statement. Read more: China’s top health body says it will no longer publish daily Covid infection numbers There has been a thick cloud of uncertainty regarding China's COVID-19 numbers for the last three years. While the rest of the world managed to tame the virus by being transparent, China, through its hush-hush strategy coupled with its 'zero-Covid' policy managed to keep the pandemic alive. According to a Bloomberg report, the minutes of an internal meeting of the NHC held earlier this month showed that 248 million people, or nearly 18 per cent of the country's population, likely contracted Covid in the first 20 days of December. Read more: Leaked documents show nearly 250 million Chinese contracted Covid in December (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WHO asks China to share real-time COVID-19 data amid uncertainty over actual numbers

While Beijing continues to 'stage-manage' the WHO team in Wuhan, a vaccine scandal has erupted in China. More than 80 members of a 'crime-ring' have been arrested for manufacturing and selling fake vaccines in China and abroad. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: A vaccine scandal erupts in China