Shenzhen started administering COVID-19 vaccines to foreigners as well as Hong Kong and Macao residents living in Guangdong Province yesterday on a voluntary basis.

Foreign nationals who are covered by the provincial medical insurance program can receive COVID-19 vaccines free of charge in the city, enjoying the same policy as the insured Chinese people do, according to the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission.

Those not covered will be charged 100 yuan (US$15.28) per dose.

Foreigners who are aged 18-59, and some aged 60 and above who are in good health condition and need the vaccine for special reasons, can get vaccinated.

Those of eligible age can make a reservation for vaccination via the WeChat miniprogram "粤健通", and need to present their permanent residence ID card or passport and a valid residence or stay permit, as well as medical insurance proof (if available) at the designated vaccination sites.

For Hong Kong and Macao residents living in Guangdong, the COVID-19 vaccines are also available to those who fall within the same age range as specified for foreigners.

Those who are ready to take the vaccines should also make an appointment on the WeChat miniprogram "粤健通" in advance.

People with Chinese nationality from Hong Kong and Macao should present either their mainland residence permits issued by public security authorities or proof of enrollment in mainland medical insurance programs to get vaccinated for free.

Teachers and students from Hong Kong and Macao working or studying in Guangdong can also be inoculated free of charge through vaccinations organized by their schools.

Those who fail to meet the requirements for free vaccinations shall get vaccinated at their own expense and be charged 100 yuan per dose.

Eligible vaccine recipients from Hong Kong and Macao will enjoy the same supporting policies as their mainland counterparts in Shenzhen.

The vaccines provided for foreigners as well as Hong Kong and Macao residents are the domestically developed inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, and two doses will be administered to each recipient.

According to Lo Chung-mau, hospital chief executive of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, the hospital has set up five inoculation units for COVID-19 vaccinations.

"Currently our vaccination clinic can provide 400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for foreigners and Hong Kong and Macao residents per day. We will flexibly adjust the number of vaccines according to actual demand," Lo said, adding that on-site reservation is also available in the hospital to help these groups of people get vaccinated.

The hospital's emergency department has launched a multilingual hotline 85913111, which can provide consultation service in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, for vaccine recipients in case of adverse reactions.

Maria Quinonez Umana and her husband Christian Umana from Honduras were among the first batch of foreigners who received the shots at the hospital yesterday morning.

"We are very happy to get vaccinated. We’ve been waiting for this moment for months," Maria told Shenzhen Daily. Maria and her husband have been living in Shenzhen for 10 years. They came to the hospital for consultation after they failed to make a successful reservation online.

"We came here and the nurses told us that we could register on site. They’ve been very helpful and the vaccination process was smooth," Maria said.

Borja Herrero, a Spanish working for a logistics company in Futian District, also got his vaccine shot at the hospital yesterday. "I came to the hospital for some errands and then learned that I can get vaccinated here and today, so I register at the reception desk right away."

"I feel very good after receiving the vaccine and I hope it will work. It's good for us so that we can travel and visit our friends and families in our home countries," Herrero said.