Intl students in Shanghai 'feel lucky' for COVID-19 vaccines

A Peruvian student studying at Shanghai University who had her first COVID-19 vaccine shot this month said, "I feel lucky to be in China so I can have access to it."

"I decided to take it because I've been following the news about the pandemic and know that Chinese vaccines are safe," she added.

"China is doing a good job controlling the pandemic, but this virus has proven to be extremely contagious. We should keep following the safety measures like washing hands, social distancing, and using masks. If we can add vaccines to the list, then why not?"

Shanghai has started appointment-based COVID-19 vaccinations for expats, drawing more and more international students to apply for them.

Naim Shorkar, a Bangladeshi student from Shanghai University, said, "I chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to cooperate with the local administration who are trying to keep us safe from this pandemic."

"I am extremely thankful to the respective authorities of Shanghai, China for the opportunity to get the vaccine. The authorities care not only for their citizens, but also for foreigners, which is a great example of generosity. We should take this opportunity to be vaccinated to stay safe from the virus and keep the community safe," he added.

"Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is actually safe, and I am recommending to others that they get this vaccine. It felt similar to other vaccines that I have received in the past. I experienced a little bit of soreness at the injection site, but I had no other side effects, and the arm soreness was gone by the next day."

Shorkar's schoolmate from Venezuela said that she didn't hesitate to register when Shanghai started providing foreigners with access to COVID-19 vaccines because at first she thought the chances for her, as a foreigner, to get vaccinated were long.

"I feel I was lucky because I applied as soon as I read the news. Although in China, we can consider the situation to be safe, it is not the same case for the rest of the world. So to actually get the opportunity to easily get vaccinated is a privilege and a world responsibility," she said.

More than 175.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of April 13, the National Health Commission said on April 14.