Ningbo launches vaccination appointment app for adults

The HPV vaccine that protects against four types of HPV [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

Adult residents in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, can now easily make an appointment via a mobile application to get vaccinated against various infections and viruses.

The application, which was launched by the city's disease control and prevention center on Jan 10, has been developed by the center on the basis of the nation's existing infant vaccination appointment app "Jinmiaobao".

It is the first appointment application to have been developed in the nation for adults to get vaccinated, making Ningbo the first city in China to have vaccination appointment services via an application available for both infants and adults. 

The application is the result of the city's vigorous efforts in making it easier for residents to access medical services, which it has done so through administrative streamlining in the healthcare sector.

"It's really convenient now, as thanks to the application, we can easily arrange vaccinations instead of having to make phone calls or rush to the hospitals for consultancy," said Xue Junyu, a 34-year-old local resident who received an HPV vaccination via the application on Jan 11.

The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination has been in increasingly high demand in China in recent years, as it protects against cervical cancer and other malignancies caused by HPV infection. 

In addition to HPV vaccinations, appointments to make vaccinations for flu, Hepatitis B and pneumonia can also be through the application. 

Residents can check the clinic information of these vaccinations on the application, including the distance and reservation number, and can choose the exact time to get vaccinated. 

"The application supports the appointment of vaccinations at any district in the city, while vaccinations for infants require a fixed clinic," said Fang Ting, director of the Ningbo disease control and prevention center.

The application also has navigation functions that can lead residents directly to the specific clinic that the user has chosen. 

Statistics show that nearly 100 local residents have made an appointment on the application since Jan 10.