Vaccination for foreigners in China have started

In March 2021, it was announced that foreigners in China would be able to begin vaccinating. It seems like the program has been moving quite fast in cities like Beijing; according to the latest surveys of the Beijinger’s Safe & Sane WeChat groups, 40% of foreigners in Beijing have already received their first shot.

Here are 10 FAQs about vaccinations for foreigners in China:

• Foreign nationals at the age of 18 and above in Beijing are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

• China’s domestic inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be used, and two doses are required.
  

• Foreign nationals who wish to be vaccinated may check notices issued either by their employers or their residential community offices, and take vaccine in a planned way. Generally, foreign nationals working in Beijing should make appointments through their employers; foreign teachers and students in colleges and universities should make appointments through such institutions, and other foreign nationals in Beijing should make appointments through their residential community offices. After appointments are made, foreign nationals may take vaccine nearby as arranged by local district authorities.
  

• Foreign nationals should provide valid documents when making appointments and present their passports and valid residence permits at the vaccination site. Please make sure that relevant documents are valid on the date of taking the second dose.
  

• Before taking vaccine, you should sign both a form of informed consent and a statement of bearing personal responsibility for all risks associated with vaccination. Please take necessary precautions and inform the vaccine giving personnel of your health condition so that they can decide whether you can take vaccine.
  

• Foreign nationals who have joined Beijing’s social medical insurance scheme may take vaccine free of charge by presenting due insurance document on the vaccine taking site. Those who have not should currently pay a charge of 93.5 RMB per dose.
  

• Foreign nationals who have joined Beijing’s social medical insurance scheme may take vaccine free of charge by presenting due insurance document on the vaccine taking site. Those who have not should currently pay a charge of 93.5 RMB per dose.
  

• Beijing Health Kit (Jian Kang Bao) mini-app for people from outside the country will soon have a new feature of printing the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, which foreign nationals may access after taking the second dose.
  

• Vaccination will produce immunity from COVID-19 and greatly reduce infection risks. However, no vaccine is 100% effective; some people may have insufficient antibodies after taking vaccine and they can still be vulnerable to infection, especially when an immunologic barrier is not yet created. So it is important that you should wear masks, wash hands regularly, and keep social distance.

• Vaccine taking can reduce infection risks, but no vaccine is 100% effective. When necessary, foreign nationals should still take nucleic test as required.