Can foreigners in China apply for COVID-19 vaccination?

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With the COVID-19 vaccine being rolled out among high-risk groups in China, some foreigners living in the country covet for a dose to ensure they are not left out of the immunization plan. Chinese vaccines are seen as a lifesaver by many expats, especially those who are likely to return home once free flow across borders is restored.

Official vaccination registration for foreign residents is not available in most parts of China. But foreigners who fall in the category of priority groups in China are able to register for a dose through the organization they work for in some cities.

Given the goal of vaccinating 50 million people ahead of the 2021 Spring Festival holidays, many cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province have already started mass inoculation, covering nine key groups of people including medical staff and workers in cold-chain, food and logistics sectors.

Health authorities in most of the first-tier cities including Guangzhou, Beijing and Shenzhen said they currently only arrange vaccination for key groups irrespective of nationality. 

Foreign citizens who work in high-risk sectors such as cold-chain food or public transportation can be given priority for injection along with the Chinese staff, as long as their industry supervisory government department can make unified arrangement for them. 

The Guangzhou health authority told that foreigners living in the city can apply for a dose with a valid ID (or the Chinese resident card of an immediate family member) at their own expense of 200 yuan per dose at a local vaccination site, if they have urgent need to travel abroad and present a proof of urgency.

Unlike Guangzhou, community health service centers in some cities such as Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, claimed that foreign citizens without Chinese green cards are temporarily unable to register for a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Who can apply?

Foreigners in the category of priority groups can register for vaccination in some cities.

Cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are offering vaccines to key groups irrespective of nationality.

Nine key groups include workers in medical, cold-chain, food, and logistics sectors.

Foreigners' passport no. is registered with the vaccine code for tracking safety.

Guangzhou is allowing foreigners to apply for a dose with proof of urgency.

Source:globaltimes

Editor: Crystal H

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