Expats in Shanxi now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

Expatriates in Shanxi province can now receive vaccinations for the COVID-19 virus, according to a notice released by the provincial government on June 10.

The notice said expats receiving COVID-19 vaccination should be aged above 18.

They should make the decision on whether to receive the service based on their own will after being informed of its potential risks.

Domestically developed vaccines will be used and the service is free of charge, the notice said.

Expats in Shanxi can make reservations through the entities they work with, log onto four e-government apps or go directly to neighboring vaccination locations.

Foreigners are required to present their effective IDs－passports or residential permits－at the vaccination sites, reporting their health status for service staff members to judge whether they are suitable for the vaccination.

After being injected with the vaccine, they are required stay at the site for a 30-minute observation and should report to local medical institutions if they have any allergic reactions within 14 days.

For more information about the vaccine, foreigners can ask for English-language service through three special COVID-19 hotlines: 0351-4040561, 0351-3580400 and 0351-3580337. The hotline service is available seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

Shanxi has stepped up its rate of COVID-19 vaccination. A total of 13.09 million people in Shanxi had been vaccinated as of June 13, according to the Shanxi office for the prevention and control of COVID-19.

In Shanxi, the vaccine is available in various locations including medical institutions and temporary vaccination sites. Doctors will also regularly visit local communities and business entities to offer the service for residents or employees.

More than 44,000 medical workers are currently offering vaccination service at various cities across Shanxi. The medical workers are capable of serving more than 1 million people each day, according to the Shanxi Health Commission.

Xue Lin contributed to this story.