China approves first mRNA Covid-19 shot from local firm CSPC Pharma

China has approved its first messenger RNA vaccine for Covid-19, clearing a shot from a local drugs manufacturer that harnesses the powerful technology months after the world’s most populous nation abandoned pandemic curbs. 

The mRNA vaccine, developed by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group has been approved for emergency use, according to a statement from the company Wednesday to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

The step comes years after mRNA vaccines became commonplace across the rest of the world, and over three months after China became the last country to abandon strict Covid-19 measures, resulting in a huge infection wave that experts estimate caused at least hundreds of thousands of deaths.