Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine. Photo: VCG

While China is leading the way in promoting international cooperation on supply of COVID-19 vaccines, and aiding other countries to ease supply shortfalls, some Western media outlets continue to baselessly assault China's efforts. The attacks will serve only to jeopardize global cooperation in the fight against the pandemic.

The Western media outlets discredited Chinese vaccine makers, saying that Chinese products have not been that effective when shipped abroad. Just by citing some groundless rhetoric of politicians, the media outlets tend to question the efficacy and safety of Chinese-made vaccines.

In terms of product security, the countries that have purchased COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese producers all had conducted rounds of clinical trials in the first place. The purchase contracts were signed with the approval of local health authorities. As global vaccination has just been launched, rushing to negate the efficacy of Chinese products without systematic observation is obviously a job of prejudice.

And, some Western media outlets claim that Chinese companies have been slow to ship their doses and ingredients abroad. However, the delivery and supply of Chinese vaccines to overseas countries are decided by signed contracts.With a vaccine supply shortage across the world, Chinese companies have overcome difficulty, working with other countries, especially developing countries, providing necessary assistance to them.

In fact, the slander of "China's vaccine diplomacy is not credible" has appeared since the beginning of global vaccine research and development. This argument for politicizing international vaccine cooperation is both contrary to facts and counterproductive.

China has made commitment to international community to make vaccines a global product after they are developed and put into use. China will also contribute to the accessibility and affordability of the vaccines in developing countries. 

Upholding such commitment, Chinese companies have been fully committed to aiding developing countries, and this has been reflected in the growing number of vaccine orders from abroad. 

With a severe shortage of coronavirus vaccine supply in the world, China-produced vaccines are sending rising hope to developing countries, which are also receiving praise from the WHO. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, a skeptic of China, recently thanked Beijing for rapidly approving the export of chemical components for making local COVID-19 vaccines.

China has joined the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The Chinese government encourages the companies to participate in international cooperation and vaccine distribution. China said it expects the world to join hands in vaccine research and development, to fight the common enemy of our humankind.

Chinese companies' efforts to serve global health will not be impeded by those who seek to discredit China. The smearing campaign against Chinese vaccines will only strengthen Chinese vaccine's credibility. Millions of people across the world have been vaccinated to help them get back to normalcy, and, China is an important player in ensuring a broader vaccination drive in the world.  

The author is a veteran observer in vaccine industry. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn