BEIJING: Signing up to receive the vaccine against COVID-19 has begun in China, as the Global Times has learned that hospitals, schools, police stations and enterprises in Chinese cities are mobilizing people to take the shot against the resurgence of the epidemic.
Prior to China’s national plan to vaccinate 50 million people before the Spring Festival season in February, some have received the shot to avoid risks while others refused to be inoculated out of safety concerns.
Aiming to build herd immunity through mass vaccination, the Chinese authority said China is planning to vaccinate 50 million people in high-risk groups before Chinese New Year, which falls on February 12, to deter the spread of the virus.
Hospitals, schools, police stations and enterprises, part of the country’s plan to inoculate the high-risk population, have started registering to see how many people intend to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Global Times learned. For many who had already been vaccinated, they praised the safety of the vaccine and experienced no side effects so far.
However, some refused to be vaccinated, as they are concerned about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines, or know little about the scientific results. Others said that as the domestic epidemic is well under control, they feel reluctant to take the risk of receiving the vaccines that were developed in such a short time.
Concerns over the safety of vaccines are normal, Chinese experts noted. They suggested that top Chinese leaders, local government officials and chief epidemiologists take the lead to receive the vaccine, which may dismiss public concerns, and which will happen in the future.
“I received the COVID-19 vaccine five days ago. I found no side effect. But my shoulder aches a bit,” a nurse working in Beijing’s Chaoyang Maternity Hospital said. Not all medical staff and nurses were to receive the vaccines as it is voluntary, the Global Times learned on Wednesday.
Some hospitals and police stations in Beijing have started registrations. The Global Times also learned that some hospitals, including one in Jinzhong, North China’s Shanxi Province, had inoculated its staff, except those who are pregnant or have a history of severe allergies.
“It was like getting a flu shot, and I did not have adverse reactions. But three or four of our hundreds of colleagues experienced fever and emesis,” said a doctor from the hospital, who requested anonymity.
The latest vaccination emergency use program in Shanghai has extended to journalists, following the previous inoculation of frontline groups covering airport staff, border and porter personnel, cold-chain industry workers, public health medical staff and people involved in the Third China International Import Expo that was held in early November, an official from the Shanghai Health Commission told the Global Times.
The Global Times learned that many working in government agencies had been inoculated. An airline worker, who preferred not to be named, said that colleagues who fly international routes or have contacts with them have received the shots voluntarily.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
