The COVID-19 Vaccines Evaluation Program: Implementation, Management, and Experiences, 2021-2023

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• China's domestic COVID-19 vaccines were approved and distributed globally in 2021.
• Low domestic infection rates necessitated international studies to assess real-world vaccine effectiveness.
• The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) initiated the COVID-19 Vaccines Evaluation Program (COVEP).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of China's domestically produced COVID-19 vaccines.
• To foster international research collaborations for public health initiatives.
• To address critical questions regarding vaccine performance across diverse global settings.

Main Methods:

• Established research collaborations with health institutes across five WHO regions.
• Implemented ten cooperative research agreements under the COVEP framework.
• Conducted international studies to gather real-world data on vaccine efficacy.

Main Results:

• COVEP findings reinforced domestic and global confidence in the effectiveness of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines.
• International study outcomes were often consistent with subsequent studies conducted within China.
• The program successfully generated crucial data on vaccine performance in varied populations.

Conclusions:

• COVEP demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of China's COVID-19 vaccines.
• The program established a novel model for international research collaboration on public health issues.
• COVEP's success aligns with China CDC's national disease control and prevention strategies.