Those Who Are Exempt From The Cost Of China's COVID-19 Vaccine

Photo illustration (Maca Photo Agency / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Beijing Municipal Government launched a mass vaccination program at the end of September. The plan is that the vaccine will be distributed free of charge to all school students.

To support the program Beijing will build 446 units of free mass vaccination centers and 480 units of paid vaccination centers. People must make an appointment by telephone or online starting this Friday to get access to mass vaccinations.

The announcement was made officially by the Beijing City Center for Contagious Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). Apart from elementary and middle school students, residents over 60 years of age will also receive free vaccines from October 10 to November 30.

They will receive vaccine injections in schools and at community vaccination service centers. Several residential areas in Fengtai District, Chaoyang District, and Xicheng District have started preparing and receiving vaccination registrations from the public, local media reported.

The public health service center in Hujialou area, Chaoyang District, Thursday, September 24 has received registration of 400 residents. According to Hujialou public health service staff, this year's vaccination program will be tightened, both in terms of time and number of recipients.

The vaccination center was also designed to accept 25 people per hour. "Indeed, the best time to get a vaccine is before flu season, usually in September and October," said vaccine expert, Tao Lina.

Zhang Hui, deputy head of China's National Food and Drug Administration, estimates that this year the number of flu vaccines will increase to 50 million doses.

The Beijing Municipal Government launched a mass vaccination program in late September to prevent residents from being exposed to the influenza virus and COVID-19, which has the potential to bring about further outbreaks in the fall and winter months.