All You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccination in China

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News on Dec 31 that China had approved a homegrown coronavirus vaccine manufactured by state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm for general public use promoted both excitement and lots of questions. Who is eligible for the vaccine? How do you get it? Are there any side effects?

The vaccine, which Sinopharm says is 79% effective based on ongoing phase 3 clinical trials, is given in two doses over the course of four weeks, at least 14 days apart. It is reported to offer over six months of immunity, meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

The following information is translated from a WeChat post published by CCTV News Center.

Who can get the vaccine?

The vaccine is currently recommended for people between the ages of 18-59, with an emphasis on nine key groups:

1. Personnel involved in cold chain goods inspection
2. Port handling personnel
3. Transport and logistics personnel
4. People who need to travel abroad for work and study
5. Customs and border control personnel
6. Health workers
7. Public security, fire protection, and social workers
8. Utilities workers
9. People working in fields such as logistics, care for older adults, public sanitation, and funeral services

In Beijing, the plan is to vaccinate all members of these groups prior to Spring Festival 2021. According to China Daily, by Jan 3, 73,537 people in high-risk groups had received the first dose of the vaccine after Beijing began inoculating people on Jan 1. Restaurant workers and delivery drivers also appear to be a high priority, with JSS posting in their WeChat groups that their delivery drivers had received the first dose, and other popular Beijing restaurants reporting the same.

The list of priority groups is likely to be extended as more vaccines become available. At present, it does not seem to be possible for individuals to make an appointment to get the vaccine. People who need to get the vaccination for personal reasons, e.g. travel abroad, should contact their local community service center.

As of the week beginning January 4, beijingkids was also made aware that some teachers in private schools have been asked to register to be vaccinated for free, although it is not clear if this is mandatory and no timeline for when the vaccinations will occur was given.

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Who should not get the vaccine?

The following groups are not eligible for the vaccine:

1. Anyone under 18 or over 59
2. Pregnant women
3. Nursing mothers
4. People who are in the acute stages of fever or infection, people with immune system diseases/disorders
5. Anyone with severe liver or kidney disease, hypertension that cannot be controlled with medication, diabetes complications, or malignant tumors

People outside of the current recommended age range (18-59) will have to wait for the disclosure of further clinical trial data before they can be vaccinated.

Does the vaccine have any side effects?

Reported side effects of the vaccine include headaches and low fever, coughing, pain at the site of vaccination, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite (similar, you may note, to the symptoms of COVID-19). As with most vaccinations, it is advised that you remain on site for 30 minutes after you receive the vaccine and report any negative effects to vaccination personnel as soon as possible.

Can life go back to normal after I get the vaccine?

No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and Chinese health authorities have cautioned that people should continue to pay attention to preventative measures such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and frequent hand washing, especially until more of the population can be vaccinated.

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Photos: Unsplash, Shutterstock.com

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