BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities are going door to door, paying people over the age of 60 to be vaccinated against COVID-19.But Despite the surge in cases64-year-old Li Liansheng said his friends were surprised by stories of fevers, blood clots and other side effects.
“When you hear about incidents like this, you may not want to get vaccinated,” said Lee, who was vaccinated before contracting COVID-19. Days after her 10-day battle with the virus, Lee is suffering from his sore throat and cough. He said it was like a “common cold” with a mild fever.
China is cooperating with other countries to treat cases, rather than trying to reverse the economic downturn by lifting or easing testing, quarantine and travel rules to eradicate the virus. . But this shift has left hospitals overwhelmed with patients complaining of fevers and wheezing.
The National Board of Health announced the campaign on 29 November. Raise vaccination coverage among the elderly in China, health experts say is essential to avoiding a health care crisis. It is also the biggest hurdle before the ruling Communist Party lifts the last of the world’s toughest antivirus restrictions.
China has kept cases low for two years with a “zero COVID” strategy that quarantines cities and keeps millions at home.well, as it is retreat its approachfacing widespread outbreaks other countries have already experienced.
The Health Board has recorded just six deaths from COVID-19 this month, bringing the country’s official death toll to 5,241. That’s despite multiple reports of relatives’ family members dying.
China Count only deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure In the official COVID-19 toll, health officials said last week. This very narrow definition excludes many deaths that other countries attribute to her COVID-19.
Experts predict between 1 and 2 million deaths in China by the end of 2023.
Li said he was considering getting a second booster for his propaganda campaign, as he exercised on the leafy grounds of the Temple of Heaven in central Beijing. ”
Neighborhood commissions, which make up the lowest level of government, have been mandated to locate and track the health of everyone over the age of 65. They are doing what the state media has called an “ideological campaign”, lobbying residents and convincing their elderly relatives to get vaccinated.
The Liulidun district of Beijing, the capital of China, promises up to 500 yuan ($70) for those aged 60 and over to receive a two-dose vaccination course plus a booster dose.
The National Board of Health announced on December 23 that the number of people being vaccinated daily has more than doubled nationwide to 3.5 million. But that’s just a fraction of the tens of millions of injections he was getting daily in early 2021.
Older people are reluctant about the potential side effects of Chinese vaccines. The government has not released test results for people over the age of 60.
Li said a 55-year-old friend suffered from fever and blood clots after being vaccinated. He said he wasn’t sure the shot was the cause, but his friend is reluctant to get another one.
“It is also said the virus keeps mutatingsaid Lee. “How do we know if the vaccines we are taking are useful?”
The risk of COVID-19 is greater than the side effects of the vaccine, which can happen to almost everyone, so even though experts have warned that vaccination is even more urgent, people with diabetes, heart problems, and other health complications, some are reluctant.
A 76-year-old man who takes daily walks around the Temple of Heaven with a stick said he wants to be vaccinated but has diabetes and high blood pressure. He said the man, who gave only his last name, was wearing a mask and trying to avoid crowds.
Older people also felt little urgency, as the low number of cases before the recent surge meant few faced the risk of infection. However, few people in China have developed antibodies against the virus because of the low number of infected people in the past.
“Now, families and relatives of the elderly need to make it clear to them that the infection can lead to serious illness or death,” said Jiang Xibo of the School of Medicine of Fudan University in Shanghai.
According to the National Health Commission, more than 90% of people in China are vaccinated, but only about two-thirds of people over 80 years old. According to the 2020 census, China has 191 million people over the age of 65.
“Compensation rates for people over 80 still need to improve,” said Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper. ‘Older people are at higher risk’
Du Ming’s son arranged for the 100-year-old Du Ming to be vaccinated, said his caretaker, Li Zhuqing. Lee agreed with that approach because none of his family members were infected.
Health officials turned down a reporter’s request to visit the vaccination center. Two who temporarily entered the center were ordered to leave when employees learned who they were.
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Contributed by AP researcher Yu Bing and video producers Olivia Zhang and Wayne Zhang.