BEIJING: China will establish an organization to better fulfill its commitment to international polio eradication efforts and reduce biosecurity risks, according to the National Health Commission.
The organization, named the National Authority for Containment, will ensure the research and use of relevant vaccines, read a circular jointly released by the National Health Commission, National Medical Products Administration, and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
Poliomyelitis, caused by the poliovirus, once resulted in widespread global outbreaks before the polio vaccine became available.
China Faces Polio Risk
Despite China’s continuous polio-free status since 2000, it faces potential risks from neighboring countries with wild poliovirus in circulation, underlining the need to maintain high population immunity through vaccination, the circular said.
It added that as institutions involved in research, vaccine production, and disease control need to use and store poliovirus and its infectious materials during these processes, the NAC can effectively regulate the establishment and operation of these institutions.
