(Focus on Boao) What new "sharp weapon" is the world looking for in the "epidemic" of science and technology?

　　China News Agency, Boao, April 22 (Xie Yanbing) Since the global pandemic of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, there have been constant voices discussing how to deal with it.

　　The most powerful weapon for mankind to fight against disease is science and technology.

Virus monitoring, vaccine R&D and production, diagnosis and treatment... In many key links in the battle against the "epidemic", technology is a "sharp weapon" to win.

At the 2022 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia, which is being held, all parties have proposed new ideas for using science and technology to fight the "epidemic".

　　From Delta to Omicron, the speed at which viruses mutate is posing new challenges for global health systems.

In this regard, Malta Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Chris Fein said that the global early warning mechanism is particularly important.

　　Rajiv Shah, chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation, said that the Rockefeller Foundation established the Institute for Epidemic Prevention. "We strive to establish a global early warning system to quickly detect new mutants and quickly interrupt transmission."

　　"We are committed to improving the ability to monitor the genomic variation of the new coronavirus, while analyzing non-traditional data such as wastewater, travel information, and consumer information." Rajiv Shah said that he hoped that more institutions would join in data sharing to jointly prevent and Defuse the crisis.

　　Miao Xiang, president of Shenzhen Kangtai Biology, also pointed out that if there is a global joint monitoring mechanism to predict the possible strains of the virus in the next year and distribute vaccines uniformly, the global joint anti-epidemic will take an important step.

　　Experts at the meeting generally agreed that a vaccine that can better prevent the infection and spread of the new coronavirus needs to be developed in the future.

　　Zheng Zhongwei, head of the vaccine research and development team of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, said at the meeting that China has achieved full coverage of the clinical trials of the five technical routes of the new coronavirus vaccine, and the research and development of monovalent and multivalent vaccines for the Omicron variant has been completed. make positive progress.

　　"According to the current progress of global research and development, it is difficult to catch up with the mutation rate of mutant strains even under the emergency approval of various governments." Miao Xiang believes that the research and development of new crown vaccines still needs global efforts, and vaccine research and development should be established. A global synergistic mechanism for production.

　　After the vaccine is developed, whether it can be vaccinated scientifically and effectively is a linked question.

The current global "immunization gap" still exists. How to improve the vaccination rate in developing countries?

　　In addition to vaccine assistance, Wang Lei, global executive vice president, international business and China president of AstraZeneca, emphasized the transfer of vaccine technology.

"This vaccination is the largest in human history. It is necessary to make the vaccine as close as possible to the nearest capable countries, and at the same time to transfer technology as much as possible, so as to achieve the largest supply in the world." Wang Lei said.

　　The transfer of new crown vaccine technology has improved the ability of vaccine "hematopoiesis" in developing countries.

As early as February this year, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that six countries, including Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, etc., became the first recipients of the "New Crown Vaccine Technology Transfer Center", and will receive local Technology required to produce mRNA new crown vaccine.

　　In promoting the localized production of vaccines in developing countries, China has been playing an active role in promoting the construction of a global immunization barrier.

Deng Boqing, deputy director of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said during the annual meeting that at present, China has successively transferred technology to more than 20 countries and cooperated in the production of vaccines, forming an annual production capacity of 1 billion doses of new crown vaccine overseas.

　　In June last year, the National Institute of Health of Pakistan officially released the Chinese CanSino new crown vaccine produced locally, realizing the localized production of the new crown vaccine for the first time.

It is understood that as of March 2022, the total output of the PakVac vaccine jointly produced by China and Pakistan has exceeded 20 million doses.

　　The "vaccine passport" offers hope for a "normalization" of cross-border travel as countries gradually accelerate the pace of vaccination.

The "vaccine passport" is an internationally recognized certificate of vaccination against the new crown, so to speak, an electronic health pass.

　　Suraj, director of the Boao Forum for Asia and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, pointed out that the current lack of a unified international standard is the dilemma of the "vaccine passport".

For opponents of the "vaccine passport", protecting privacy is also a big problem.

　　Suraj believes that a regional application system can be suggested based on blockchain technology. Countries will upload their vaccination information and health information to the system 72 hours before the departure of passengers, and the system will track the symptoms of passengers in real time.

The government does not own this information, and travelers can delete it themselves after the trip is over.

"Technology can enhance mutual trust, reshape tourism, and promote economic recovery in countries." (End)