About a month ago in February, I got a phone call from my residential committee, asking if I was willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine for free. I immediately agreed, though it was a month before any real action was taken.

As a citizen, I'm more than happy to do my part in the battle against the coronavirus epidemic, since experts suggest that mass vaccination is the solution. And as a reporter, I wanted to document the vaccination process as authentically as possible and show the audience my experience.

In Beijing, over 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to 6.66 million people as of March 14. Across the country, China plans to vaccinate 70 to 80 percent of the population, including those over 60 years old, by the middle of next year.

So here I am, at the Taiyanggong community health service center, in Beijing's Chaoyang District, within a 15-minute walk from where I live, with my phone and ID, getting ready to receive my first dose.

The doctor reminded me to be aware of the contraindications. I was given a safety notice that listed several groups of people who cannot be vaccinated according to data from clinical trials.

For example, people who are allergic to any component of the vaccine or who have had severe allergic reactions to other vaccines. Pregnant women, lactating women and those who plan to have a baby within three months should not get the COVID-19 vaccine. There are 10 more lines on the paper, and I won't be able to list them all. But they are public. Everyone should browse the web and be aware of them ahead of time.

Here's a tip for those who plan to get the shot: Have a good sleep and try not to drink alcohol before getting vaccinated. That's what Dr. Bai Yongtao, head of Taiyanggong Hospital, told me.

My sleeves rolled up faster than I imagined. I was inoculated with the vaccine produced by Sinopharm, one of the leading vaccines in China. While some mRNA vaccines produced in other countries can only be stored at minus 20 or even minus 70 degrees Celsius, Sinopharm's inactivated vaccine can be stored in a standard refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius.

The vaccine works by using killed viral particles to expose the body's immune system to the virus without risking a serious disease response.

At first, I didn't feel different at all. After half an hour in the medical observation room, I still didn't feel any obvious pain, only a little soreness in my arm. Overall, things went very well and I'll be getting my second dose exactly three weeks after the first.

Dr. Bai told me that occasionally, some people may experience dizziness or numbness in their hands, which is normal. 

"Common adverse reactions after the shot include fever, fatigue, and some gastrointestinal symptoms. The injection spot may become a little swollen. But overall, most reactions are mild," Dr. Bai said.

Current studies show that the effectiveness of the vaccine lasts six months, but it needs further observation.

The community health center saw over 600 people getting vaccinated that morning. And its maximum reception reached 2,000 people per day. Most of the people are organized by their companies. The others are registered by their community committee. The room was still full when I left.

On my way out, I felt I had just played a tiny part in an effort to get us stronger and more immune to the virus. I hope my experience will provide a little encouragement for those hesitant to get the jab, and those who would rather take a step back and wait.