COVID-19 vaccination starts at 5 health centers

The COVID-19 vaccine. File photo

Starting from today, the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine is available at five community health centers in Shenzhen, which will offer free COVID-19 vaccine shots for high-risk groups.

The city’s health commission launched a reservation platform on its official WeChat account “jkshenzhen” Saturday to accept reservations for the vaccination. The daily quota is 300-500 for the first week and will increase later accordingly.

The groups mainly include employees in the cold chain industry, quarantine, cross-border inspection, customs, health care and public transportation, other frontline workers and cross-border drivers.

Appointments for their vaccinations should be made by organizations representing them.

Students studying overseas and people going abroad for business and for private purposes, also a high-risk group, are allowed to make reservations on their own.

Those who are qualified to receive the vaccine can go to the adult vaccination center of Luohu Hospital Group, Dachong Community Health Center of Nanshan District Medical Group Headquarters, the adult vaccination clinic of Yihaogongguan residential estate in Bao’an District, Shengping Community Health Center of Longgang Central Hospital and Tianbei Community Health Center of Longhua Central Hospital.

Recipients should carry their ID cards, passports or visas for on-site verification and stay at the vaccination site for 30 minutes for observation on whether they have an allergic reaction after the inoculation, the health commission said.

Recipients are also required to report their health conditions on WeChat account “jkshenzhen” for seven consecutive days starting the day they receive the shot. The vaccine will require two shots, which are administered in an interval of 14 to 28 days.

The vaccines approved for emergency use in China are all inactivated vaccines, the city’s health authority said.

Clinical research results show that general reactions after the COVID-19 vaccination mainly include local swelling and pain. A few people may have fever, fatigue, nausea, headache and muscle soreness due to individual differences, but can recover without treatment.

Those younger than 18 or older than 59 and pregnant women are not suitable for vaccination at the moment, according to the commission.

Vaccinations will be expanded to the general public after the vaccines are officially launched and supply increases, the commission said, adding that the vaccination work in Shenzhen is carried out step by step according to the arrangements of higher authorities.

In another development, Shenzhen reported one asymptomatic COVID-19 case yesterday. The patient, surnamed Wang, is a 27-year-old man living in the Haianyuan residential estate in Bao’an District, according to the city’s health authorities.

It is reported that Wang had been on a business trip in Beijing from Dec. 7 to 12 and from Dec. 21 to 25, and stayed in Shenzhen the rest of the time.

Wang underwent three nucleic acid tests in Bao’an District People’s Hospital on Dec. 6, 14 and 20, and the results were negative. He went for another nucleic acid test in the same hospital Saturday afternoon, the day he returned from Beijing.

The preliminary screening result of Wang’s last nucleic acid test turned out to be positive at 12:44 p.m. yesterday. He was subsequently sent to Bao’an District People’s Hospital for medical observation.

The Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention completed a reassessment and the result was also positive. Wang was then transferred to Shenzhen No. 3 People’s Hospital. He was diagnosed as an asymptomatic case of COVID-19 by a panel of experts and currently he is in a stable condition.

According to preliminary investigations, as of 7 a.m. yesterday, Wang had 57 close contacts (including 48 close contacts on the same flight), and two other close contacts of the close contacts.

Wang’s residence and the hospital area where he had been have been disinfected.