BERLIN, AFP: Germany said it had received permission for a shipment of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 to land in China yesterday to be given to Germans living in the country.

Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told reporters that the first batch of German pharma company’s BioNTech jabs were being flown to China.

“The Chinese Government informed Germany today that for the time being German citizens in China may be given the BioNTech vaccines,” he said, adding that “around 20,000 Germans would benefit” from the shipment.

He added that Germany was negotiating to win access for “other so-called expatriates” from other countries. “In return, Chinese citizens in Europe, in Germany, may receive the Chinese vaccine Sinovac, if they so choose,” Hebestreit said.

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