China Starts Heterologous Booster Vaccination

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - China began giving heterologous booster injections using different types of vaccines with the first and second doses on Saturday amid the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

People who receive inactivated vaccines from Sinopharm or Sinovac or CanSinoBio can choose booster injections with the same or different vaccines, according to Wu Liangyou of China's National Health Commission (NHC) as reported by Antara, Saturday, February 19.

The heterologous booster injection is only given to citizens aged 18 years and over who have received a complete dose of injection at least in the last six months.

The decision was taken in the midst of the rapid transmission of Omicron in various countries and based on the consideration of research results which stated that heterologous booster vaccination could provide better protection for the body against various variants of COVID-19.

Compared to the Delta variant, Omicron's transmission is twice as high, Wu said.

More than five million Chinese have received booster shots with the same type of vaccine.

Heterologous boosters have also been carried out in various countries, such as the United States and Argentina.

In China, there are two types of vaccines that can be used as heterologous boosters, namely products from Anhui Zhifei Longcom and CanSinoBio.