Coronavirus: 9 million vaccinated in China’s free inoculation drive
- Health officials outline plans to ramp up national immunisation programme as Hebei province battles surge in cases
- Country aims to give 50 million people the jab by Lunar New Year before rolling out nationwide programme
China said on Saturday it has vaccinated 9 million people as it confirmed that it will offer free Covid-19 vaccinations to the whole population.
The country is preparing to vaccinate 50 million people with a two-dose regime ahead of the peak travel season for the Lunar New Year, and is then planning to roll out a free national immunisation programme for the general public.
“Since the vaccination programme started, a total of 7.38 million people have been vaccinated, together with an earlier 1.6 million people from high risk groups, over 9 million have been vaccinated,” Zeng Yixin, the deputy director of the National Health Commission, told a press conference.
09:50
SCMP Explains: What's the difference between the major Covid-19 vaccines?
Zeng confirmed the government would shoulder the costs of the vaccines for all residents – something he last week said had been agreed in “principle” – but added they would be voluntary.