Residents aged 60 and above began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in Zhuhai on July 4 after a health examination and reservation at a residential community health clinic.

The Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine in Xiawan of Gongbei receives up to 500 over-60s daily after 2:30 pm. As of 3 pm July 6, vaccines were given to 416 people, many of whom were foreigners.

A 72-year-old South Korean surnamed Kim went to the hospital Tuesday for vaccination, accompanied by his wife and friend after making an appointment at the Gongbei Health Service Center near his residence.

Kim has been in China 15 years and now works for an enterprise in Jinwan District. He expressed confidence in the effectiveness and safety of Chinese vaccines. His Indonesian friend was also administered a China-made serum.

Vaccination area at Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine [Photo by Li Changxuan & Cheng Lin / WeChat account: zhtqb12345]

Seniors are to present a green health QR code and travel history upon arrival at the hospital, then undergo an epidemiological (who, when, and where) examination and have body temperature taken. Medical staffers check their health condition once again by measuring blood pressure and glucose levels.

Any history of allergy and contraindication will be investigated at the information desk on the second floor. Those with fever, acute illness, severe chronic diseases, or in the acute phase of chronic diseases are advised not to get vaccinated. Eligible people can wait for inoculation after signing an informed consent document. Doctors from the general surgery department and intensive care units will check their situation in the medical observation zone, with emergency drugs and equipment readily available.

Yang Xiaorong, vice president of the hospital, advises seniors to come by at their appointment time to shorten wait times and avoid heatstroke. Persons over 70 must be accompanied by family members or residential community volunteers.

There are now 11 hospitals for vaccination and 26 residential community health service institutions for registration, health examination and appointment in Zhuhai.

Foreign nationals can choose Zhuhai People's Hospital or Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine for vaccination. Those who have participated in the social medical insurance of Guangdong Province can present their social medical insurance card and share the same treatment as other Chinese citizens. Otherwise, they will be vaccinated at their own expense. The cost is 100 yuan ($15) per dose.

(cityofzhuhai)