A total of 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines made in the Chinese mainland were delivered to the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Saturday.

The inactivated vaccines were the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines supplied to Macao thanks to the support of the central authorities, according to the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of Macao.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR said the move fully demonstrates the high importance attached by the central government to epidemic prevention and control work in Macao and the central government's care for the health and wellbeing of Macao compatriots.

The vaccines are of great significance to speeding up the resumption of normal economic and social orders in Macao and fully restoring normal people-to-people exchanges between the SAR and the mainland, the office said.

Macao Health Bureau Director Lei Chin Ion said after the handover ceremony that efforts would be made to vaccinate medical workers before the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

After the Chinese New Year, vaccination would be open to the public, with priority given to those working at border ports, police, firefighters and those working at casinos, on a voluntary basis, Lei told reporters.

The center announced in January that the SAR would offer vaccination free of charge to Macao ID holders, employees from elsewhere who work in the SAR and non-local students studying in the city.