Moderna Inc. and the Chinese government have concluded negotiations to supply vaccines against COVID-19. Moderna CEO Stephan Bansel said a final decision has not yet been made.
While the rest of the world is gradually lifting covid restrictions, China continues to shut down huge parts of society and conduct mass testing to eradicate the coronavirus. China has not approved a single foreign vaccine against COVID and relies on several vaccines developed domestically.
Bansel said at a news conference in Tokyo that the country is open to supplying mRNA-based vaccines. He also said the company is considering building mRNA vaccine manufacturing facilities in Japan.
Booster vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer Inc, which target a variant of the Omicron coronavirus, have received approvals in Japan.