(Interview between the two sessions) Interview with Gao Fu, Director of the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Establishing the National Vaccine Research Center to "Continue Vaccine Research"

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 6th. Title: Interview with Gao Fu, Director of China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Establishing the National Vaccine Research Center to "Continue Vaccine Research"

　　China News Agency reporter Li Chunwen Mengxin

　　"I will ask you a question in turn." In an exclusive interview, Gao Fu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, asked a reporter from China News Agency, "Do you think it is like this new crown pandemic is happening, from a global perspective. Look, are we globally ready?"

　　One month after China’s first outbreak notification, COVID-19 became a public health emergency of global concern; within less than three months, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a “global pandemic”; today, one year later, a total of confirmed cases worldwide There are more than 110 million cases.

The world has never expected that the new crown epidemic "will develop so fast," and the damage it will cause to human society "is indeed unexpected."

　　Experts and scholars from many countries have pointed out that the new coronavirus may coexist with humans for a long time.

Although at the beginning of the epidemic, scientists quickly isolated the virus strains and initially grasped the law of transmission of the virus, there are still unsolved questions about the new coronavirus.

"We can't say that it's safe and sound." Gao Fu said that overall the epidemic is still developing. In order to build a herd immunity barrier, "call for everyone to fight the vaccine."

　　At present, China has conditionally approved the listing of four new crown vaccines.

Gao Fu said that China's vaccine research and development has always been in the world's first phalanx, and it is preliminary estimated that vaccine production capacity can keep up with demand.

However, it requires a process in the process of transforming production capacity to vaccine products, and then transforming the products into human immunity.

　　Under the "three-step" vaccination strategy, as of the end of February this year, China has received more than 52 million doses of the new crown vaccine.

However, on a global scale, China's current coverage of the new crown vaccine is still low.

When will China build an immune barrier?

"It will reach 70 to 80%. If it is faster, it will be the middle of next year, if it is slow, it will be the end of next year." Gao Fu estimated.

　　Speeding up the construction of a herd immune barrier through vaccination is not only to suppress the pandemic situation as soon as possible, but also to "outperform" virus mutation.

At present, the United Kingdom, South Africa and other countries have reported the detection of mutant new coronaviruses, and they have even become the dominant local strains.

There are also media reports that some mutated new coronaviruses may be more contagious.

　　Gao Fu said that at present, although the new crown virus is changing, it is "invariably changeable", and the most critical point has not changed.

For example, a virus needs to find the receptor in the cell to invade the human body, and the part that binds to the receptor remains unchanged.

If this part of the virus is targeted, then the vaccine will still work.

　　But regarding the durability of vaccine protection, the public health expert also expressed “unsure”: “The first time humans have been exposed to the new coronavirus, it is still not possible to answer how long the vaccine’s antibody protection against the virus can last. There is no definite answer. "

　　What is certain is that in response to this "uncertainty", the country needs to make timely adjustments to its immunization program.

"This is a scientific problem." Gao Fu said, for example, how to arrange subsequent population vaccinations after the key population is vaccinated; how to adjust the vaccine if the virus mutation reduces the protection of the vaccine; whether it needs to start from the beginning after the new vaccine is successfully developed Clinical trials and so on are all dynamically adjusted content.

　　Another example is whether the elderly are vaccinated against the new crown vaccine.

Gao Fu pointed out that people over the age of 60 are not required to be vaccinated, precisely because China's epidemic prevention and control is proper, and the risk of the elderly and people with underlying diseases being infected with the new crown virus has been controlled.

"Whether to fight the vaccine, when and how to fight it, has always been a question of balancing risks and benefits."

　　Gao Fu recalled that after the development of the SARS vaccine was completed, vaccination was not promoted in the whole society, because the SARS epidemic had ended at that time, and the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) vaccine did not continue until Phase III clinical trials.

"On the one hand, this is the result of dynamic adjustment, and on the other hand, it is also a lesson that humans should learn. We should study these vaccines well and be prepared."

　　During the National Two Sessions this year, Gao Fu's suggestions are also related to this.

One of his proposals is to focus on scientific and technological innovation and vaccine research and development, calling on the country to pay attention to issues such as basic investment and personnel training in related fields, and to establish a national vaccine research center.

　　"Science-based, public understanding and participation, and administrative decision-making are three very critical steps in the face of various public health incidents." Gao Fu said that he is both a scientific researcher and a public health professional.

In the "chamber" of the National Two Sessions, it is hoped that such participation in politics can help the country improve public health, scientific and technological innovation, and promote the public's understanding of public health events.

"If I can achieve this goal, I will be very pleased." (End)