Photo: VCG

Vaccines, a key to safeguarding public health, have been increasingly prioritized over the last decade by the Communist Party of China (CPC). This is reflected in China's determination in the quick implementation of COVID-19 vaccine R&D, Su Wei, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, told the Global Times.

After the outbreak of the epidemic, China immediately launched vaccine research and development, constituted specialized teams, and examined multiple technical routes, which reflects the CPC's emphasis for people's health in the society, said Su.

As of end of October, at least 46 COVID-19 vaccines were in the human trial phase in China and more than 20 in overseas clinical trials as the country pushes forward its vaccine research and development through multiple tech routes, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Vaccine and immunization programs are a strategic deployment for China. "Putting life first and respecting science" is part of the great anti-epidemic spirit encouraged by the Chinese government, Su told the Global Times.

The 20th National Congress of CPC discussed modernizing China's national security system and capacity and safeguarding national security and social stability, and drug safety, biopharmaceutical regulation, and vaccines are important part of the system of national security and social stability, said Su.

"We must regard science and technology as our primary productive force, talent as our primary resource, and innovation as our primary driver of growth," read the report to the 20th National Congress of CPC.. "We will open up new areas and new arenas in development and steadily foster new growth drivers and new strengths."

Su believes that in the post-pandemic era, the CPC's emphasis on biosecurity will become more obvious in the future, given that the public's expectations regarding the pharmaceutical industry and vaccines will be higher than before.

China will accelerate the implementation of the safety-driven development strategy in vaccine development at a faster pace to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in overall science and technology, said the expert.