Luohu launches vaccination for expats, HK and Macao residents
Mr. Tatp, from Russia, receives his COVID-19 vaccine.
On April 15, the first batch of foreigners and Hong Kong and Macao residents were vaccinated at Luohu People's Hospital.
Shenzhen started administering the COVID-19 vaccine to foreigners as well as Hong Kong and Macao residents living in Guangdong Province on April 13 on a voluntary basis.
Xiong Yi, vice president of Luohu People's Hospital, said: "The moment we were informed to prepare for vaccinating foreigners and residents from Hong Kong and Macao, we connected to the inoculation system in no time, trained our inoculation staff, and equipped the inoculation unit with a respirator, an AED (automated external defibrillator), and emergency medicine supplies".
To facilitate inoculation, medical staff able to speak Cantonese and foreign languages, as well as professional interpreters, were deployed. Multilingual versions of vaccination notice were presented to recipients.
Mr. Wang is a Hong Kong resident living in Luohu. He mobilized more than 20 Hong Kong residents in his community to get vaccinated in the hospital. "We are so happy to be able to get vaccinated," he said, adding: "We are being responsible for ourselves and others."
Mr. Miller, an American who plans to fly back to his hometown this June, got vaccinated in the hope it would ensure his safe travel.
Mr. Tatp, from Russia, said that anyone eligible for vaccination should undergo it in order to stay safe.
Foreign nationals who are covered by the Guangdong provincial medical insurance program can receive COVID-19 vaccines free of charge in the city, enjoying the same policy as insured Chinese people, according to the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission. Those not covered are charged 100 yuan (US$15.28) per dose.
Foreigners who are aged 18-59, and some aged 60 and above who are in good health condition and need the vaccine for special reasons, can get vaccinated.
For Hong Kong and Macao residents living in Guangdong, the COVID-19 vaccine is available to those who fall within the same age range as specified for foreigners. Teachers and students from Hong Kong and Macao working or studying in Guangdong can also be inoculated free of charge through vaccination programs organized by their schools.
Those who fail to meet the requirements for free vaccinations should get vaccinated at their own expense.
The injections involve domestically developed inactivated COVID-19 vaccines requiring two shots.