Prognosis
Facing Resistance, China Pushes Back 50 Million Vaccine Target
- Originally planned to reach milestone by Lunar New Year
- China’s vaccine rollout is lagging behind the U.S., Europe
A vaccination center in the Chaoyang District of Beijing.
Photographer: Jia Haocheng/Xinhua/Getty Images
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China has pushed back a target to inoculate 50 million people against Covid-19 by almost two months amid concerns over supply and hesitancy among the population around vaccines, according to people familiar with the matter.
The new plan, which was recently communicated to health officials, shifted the timeline for reaching 50 million shots to the end of March, said the people, who requested anonymity as they’re not authorized to speak publicly. Bloomberg and other media reported in December that China intended to reach that target by the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts this Thursday.