What is the name of the Chinese crown?
Updated June 10, 2022 to reflect revised interim guidance. The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has released updated interim policy guidance for the use of the Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine. This article provides a brief overview of these interim recommendations; The full guidance document is available here. The following is information you need to know.
Who is this vaccine suitable for?
The vaccine can be used safely and effectively to immunize all persons 18 years of age and older. According to the WHO Roadmap for Vaccine Prioritization and the WHO Values Framework, older people, healthcare workers and immunocompromised patients should be given priority for vaccination. The Sinovac vaccine may be offered to people who have previously had COVID-19. They may, however, wish to delay vaccination for a period of 3 months from the time of infection.
Should pregnant and breastfeeding women be vaccinated?
Available data on the use of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 during pregnancy are insufficient to assess both the effectiveness of the vaccine and the possible risks associated with vaccination during pregnancy. However, this vaccine is inactivated and contains an adjuvant that is routinely used in a number of other vaccines with a well-described safety profile, including for pregnant women, in particular vaccines against hepatitis B and tetanus. Therefore, the epidemiological efficacy of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 in pregnant women is expected to be comparable to that observed in non-pregnant age-matched individuals. The safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in pregnant women is planned to be assessed in further studies. WHO currently recommends the use of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in pregnant women when the benefits of vaccination for the pregnant woman outweigh the potential risks. To assist pregnant women in making this decision, they should be provided with information about the risks of COVID-19 during pregnancy; the likely benefits of vaccination taking into account the local epidemiological situation; and the current lack of data on the safety of vaccines in pregnant women. WHO does not recommend pregnancy testing before vaccination. WHO does not recommend delaying pregnancy or considering termination of pregnancy due to vaccination. It is expected that the effectiveness of the vaccine in women during lactation will be similar to its effectiveness in other categories of adults. WHO recommends the use of this vaccine for women during lactation along with other adults. WHO does not recommend interrupting breastfeeding after vaccination.
Who is this vaccine not recommended for?
The vaccine is not recommended for use in persons under 18 years of age until more research is available in this age group. Vaccination is contraindicated in persons with a history of anaphylactic reactions to any component of the vaccine. Persons with a PCR-confirmed acute form of COVID-19 should not be vaccinated until the acute course of the disease is completed and the conditions for ending isolation are met. Persons with a body temperature above 38,5°C should delay vaccination until the fever has passed.
Is the vaccine safe?
SAGE reviewed the data on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in detail and recommended its use for immunization of persons aged 18 years and over. There is currently insufficient data on the safety of the vaccine in people over 60 years of age (due to the small number of people in this age group among clinical trial participants). Although there is no evidence to suggest a different safety profile for the vaccine in older people compared to younger age groups, countries considering using the vaccine in people over 60 years of age should actively monitor its safety on an ongoing basis. As part of the EUL process, Sinovac has committed to continually provide data on the safety, effectiveness and quality of the vaccine from its ongoing trials and its use in vaccinating the general public, including the elderly.
How effective is this vaccine?
A large phase 14 clinical trial in Brazil found that two doses of the vaccine given 14 days apart were 51% effective against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection 100 days after the second dose, 19%. in relation to severe COVID-100 and XNUMX% in relation to the need for hospitalization.
What is the recommended dosage of the vaccine?
The SAGE-recommended regimen involves intramuscular administration of two doses of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine (0,5 ml each). SAGE recommends that persons aged 60 years and over receive a third additional dose of Sinovac vaccine as part of the extended primary immunization series. Currently available data do not support the need for an additional dose in persons under 60 years of age. SAGE recommends offering an additional dose of vaccine to those who are severely or moderately immunocompromised. This is because these individuals are less likely to respond adequately to the standard primary vaccination series and are at higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19. According to WHO recommendations, the interval between the first and second doses of the primary vaccination series should be 2–4 weeks. If the second dose is given less than 2 weeks after the first dose, it does not need to be repeated. If the second dose is delayed by more than 4 weeks, it should be given as soon as possible. When immunizing people over 60 years of age with an additional dose of vaccine, SAGE recommends that countries first aim to achieve maximum coverage of this population with a two-dose vaccine and then move to a third dose, starting with the oldest categories of the population.
Is a booster dose recommended when using this vaccine?
A booster dose may be provided 4–6 months after completion of the primary vaccination series, starting with higher priority populations identified in the WHO Vaccine Priority Roadmap. The benefits of booster vaccination are supported by growing evidence of a gradual decline in the effectiveness of vaccines against mild and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. The booster dose can be heterologous (administration of a vaccine product other than Sinovac) or homologous (sinovac booster dose). Studies in Chile and Brazil found that a heterologous booster dose produced a greater immune response than a homologous booster dose.
Can this vaccine be combined with other vaccines?
SAGE recognizes as a complete primary series two heterologous doses of COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use by WHO. WHO EUL-qualified COVID-19 vector vaccines (Vaxzevria/COVISHIELD from AstraZeneca or Janssen) or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) that have undergone WHO EUL.
Does the vaccine prevent infection and transmission of the virus?
There is currently no specific data available on the effect of the Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the viral causative agent of COVID-19. Until such data becomes available, WHO reiterates the need for continued adherence to anti-epidemic measures and restrictions, which should be applied as part of a comprehensive approach to preventing infection and transmission. These measures include wearing masks, maintaining distance from others, washing hands, respiratory etiquette and cough hygiene, avoiding crowds and keeping rooms well ventilated, in accordance with local national guidance.
Does the vaccine protect against new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
In an observational study among healthcare workers in Manaus, Brazil, where the P.1 variant accounted for 75% of SARS-CoV-2 samples, the epidemiological effectiveness of protection against symptomatic infection provided by the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine was estimated to be 49,6. 4% (1). Efficacy data were also obtained from an observational study in Sao Paulo, where the P83 variant was circulating (XNUMX% of samples). Sufficient data regarding the Omicron option is not yet available. SAGE currently recommends the use of this vaccine in accordance with the WHO Roadmap for Vaccine Priority.
How does this vaccine compare to other vaccines already in use?
Due to different study designs, it is not possible to directly compare vaccines, but in general, all vaccines approved by WHO for emergency use are highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 and the associated need for hospitalization. This page was updated on June 10, 2022 to ensure consistency. This webpage was updated on March 11, 2022 to reflect current guidance and ensure consistent information and design. What do you think of when you hear the word “China”? Surely the image of a red communist flag with yellow stars, skyscrapers made of banknotes, pandas, the Chinese wall will appear in your head. Well, or a bunch of identical people in Panama hats on Red Square. You certainly can’t go wrong thinking about all this. But if you think a little harder, you will probably also remember the delicate flowing Chinese silk. Already in the 3rd century BC. The far-sighted Chinese people began to grow silkworms at home. To obtain strong, light and smooth thread from them, to sew fabrics, embroider pictures, make strings for musical instruments, strings for hunting and military bows, and even produce paper. And during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), silk became a universal monetary equivalent. At that time taxes were paid not only in grain, but also in fine silk. This fabric, by the way, served as a salary for officials at the court. Silk clothing was valued for its warmth, beauty, durability and incredible lightness. But such outfits were available for a long time only to the rich. Under no circumstances could silkworms be exported outside of China, much less talk about the intricacies of thread production. For violation of these prohibitions, a decree was heard from the windows of the ruling court: “head off your shoulders!” But, whatever one may say, you can’t hide an awl in a bag. One day, the Byzantine emperor managed to buy magical mulberry worms from visiting monks. This is how the entire Byzantine Empire and Asia Minor learned about silk. And in Russia, the delicate thread of silk was mastered only in the 16th century. Soon, along with porcelain and tea, silk became the calling card of the great Celestial Empire.
The Legend of Chinese Silk
Of course, there are many legends about how the Chinese themselves recognized a gold mine in mulberry larvae. But there is one most famous one: the great “Yellow Emperor” had a beautiful wife who loved to have tea in her flowering garden, where the mulberry tree provided wonderful shade for relaxing in the fresh air. One day, several leaves from a spreading tree fell into her porcelain cup. On these same leaves were silkworm cocoons. When the thin hands of the empress began to catch the uninvited guests, the cocoons began to unwind into a fluffy long thread. Without wasting time, the empress unwound all the cocoons from the mulberry tree and wove a soft and delicate fabric from which she ordered the great Huang Di to sew clothes. The emperor was in love with the new garment and immediately ordered the development of the production of thread and silk fabric, and that’s how it all began. Records of silk were found among the Yin fortune-telling inscriptions in the 2nd millennium BC, already then mention was made of the mulberry tree, silkworms and fabric. More than two hundred hieroglyphs that have come down to us from antiquity contain the key 丝 sī “silk” (for example: 织 zhī to weave; 纺 fǎng to spin, weave; 组 zǔ braid, ribbon, etc.). 
Over time, the volume of silk fabric production increased, its quality improved, the types of silk products became countless, and it was in honor of the bright and rich fabric that the great trade “Silk Road” was named.
Traditional clothing of ancient China
National Chinese clothing of the Han Dynasty
National Chinese clothing 汉服 (hànfú – Hanfu) or translated as “clothing of the Han Dynasty”, and it was during this era that the national Chinese costume was born, was also made of colored high-quality silk. On holidays, silk was dyed gold and red and richly decorated with embroidery and precious stones. 
White silk robes were worn during mourning ceremonies. 
And the color yellow could only be found in the robes of the imperial family. 
Hanfu has always been distinguished by restraint and only in the Tang era (618-690) it became known for its splendor and was considered very luxurious. Over the centuries, from dynasty to dynasty, Chinese national attire has undergone significant changes; in the Song (960 – 1279) and Ming (1368 -1644) eras, hanfu became an elegant and sophisticated outfit in light colors. Women’s hanfu was called 襦裙 (rúqún – zhuqun), and it was a full skirt with a wide blouse of a full cut.
National Chinese clothing Qipao 旗袍
After the overthrow of the monarchy, from the mid-20th century, the national dress of women in the Celestial Empire became the modest, but no less attractive 旗袍 (qípáo – qipao), which originated during the Manchus in the form of a long women’s dress with a stand-up collar and a wide right hem. The first qipaos were of a very simple cut, made from cheap fabrics, had five buttons and a slit in the front, but rich ladies could afford a luxurious qipao made of thin silk in the brightest and most expensive colors. 
Of course, it was clear that the specified qipao during the “interesting situation” of Chinese women was not suitable due to the narrow cut and the second national costume became wide trousers with an oblique seam on the side and a shirt, such clothes did not have buttons and fasteners and women believed that not a single evil spirit will be able to disturb the nascent life, for it will not be able to sneak through the clothes. In modern China, qipao is still popular and not a single wedding photo shoot is complete without a national dress. In stores in big cities you can often find a more business-style qipao, suitable for office work. In addition to the qipao, blouses with knotted buttons in characteristic colors with embroidery in the form of dragons or national patterns, high-necked jackets and vests of a soft and elegant cut are popular. 
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Men’s traditional clothing of China
Men’s Hanfu consisted of pants 裤 (kù – ku) and a long wide shirt; over the pants, Chinese men wore 套裤 (tàokù – taoku), attached to the pants with a thin ribbon, this was a kind of “pants cover”, since according to the rules of etiquette, men’s trousers should not were to be visible. 
But, for sure, this is not the costume you associate with Chinese men; the whole world is more familiar with 中山装 [zhōngshānzhuāng], a men’s jacket or “sunyat-sen jacket”, similar to a military jacket, popular in China until the 90s of the 20th century. The jacket is often called “Mao’s French jacket” because it was worn by the Great Helmsman. An example of this famous men’s attire was the Japanese cadet jacket that Sun Yat-sen once wore. At the end of the 20s of the last century, the zhongshanzhuang served as the official uniform for members of the government and officials; it proudly displayed five buttons, symbolizing the five branches of the Chinese government; there are versions that the five buttons were a reference to the five main nationalities of the Celestial Empire: Hans, Manchus, Uighurs , Mongols and Tibetans. The French jacket had four patch pockets and, of course, a stand-up collar. The three buttons on the cuffs of the jacket were related to the “Three Principles of the People of Sun Yat-sen”: nationalism, democracy and people’s welfare. Today, the jacket, modified and adapted to modern realities, has been adopted by the CPC as the official uniform of the People’s Liberation Army. 
National shoes of China
Of course, the national footwear of China deserves special attention. Chinese women’s shoes, for example, have never been comfortable, since the 10th century AD. Even at a young age, girls had their feet bandaged, leaving the big toe outside, it was called the “golden lotus”, and the other four were bent and tightly bandaged, gradually, the foot became deformed and after a couple of years the process of foot reduction was considered complete, the woman received a tiny foot for tiny shoes with elaborate embroidery, which I could not walk on at all. Women were inspired by Western ballerinas with small feet. Shoes on such deformed feet were triangular in shape, made of silk and decorated in every possible way. Boots with thick wooden soles and men’s boots made of hard fabric were also popular.
National headdress of China
In Ancient China, a headdress was also a mandatory attribute. Young people who had not reached the age of majority were required to wear a small metal cap, which was decorated in every possible way, demonstrating the wealth of their owner’s family. Emperors wore 冕 [miǎn], a crown or ceremonial headdress that had symbolic meaning and was required to be present on the heads of high-ranking officials during ceremonies and rituals. 
Of course, one cannot fail to mention the reed triangular peasant hat 耘笠 [yúnlì], which protected the working people from the hot rays of the sun during agricultural work in open spaces. Chinese women, unlike men, did not wear headdresses. Only for the wedding ceremony did the bride wear 凤冠 [fèngguān], a ceremonial headdress with decorations in the form of phoenixes. In normal times, all kinds of magnificent jewelry, floor-length beads, chains and metal hairpins with various carvings in the form of flowers and birds, inlaid with gems or precious stones, decorated with fresh flowers and feathers, were popular in ancient China. Rich ladies often wore wigs made of silk or animal hair. The Chinese national costume can well be considered a separate form of art, since each element of the attire was thought out in detail, decorated and styled; to this day, historical museums in China attract tourists from all over the world to their showcases with incredibly luxurious silk robes of noble Chinese families preserved literally in their original form. 
Author: Daria Lukyanenko
teacher at Mandarin School
