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Giving COVID-19 booster shots indefinitely 'not an option' in China: health expert
CGTN
Residents get COVID-19 booster shots at a local vaccination center in Nanjing, China, October 20, 2021. /CFP

Residents get COVID-19 booster shots at a local vaccination center in Nanjing, China, October 20, 2021. /CFP

Vaccinating people with COVID-19 booster shots indefinitely will not be a final option in China, Wang Huaqing, chief expert on the immunization program at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told the media at a press conference on Sunday.

Based on studies and epidemic containment needs, China has rolled out booster shots. People aged 18 and over who have completed a full course of vaccines from Sinopharm, Sinovac or CanSino for six months are eligible for the shot.

Noting the vaccines are new and use various technical routes, as the disease is still emerging and highly infectious, Wang said it will take a lot of research and discussion to determine the optimal vaccination procedure. However, the number of booster shots one can administer is limited.

"An ideal vaccine is the one that we expect to have sound protective effect after full-course vaccination," said Wang. "Even if it needs booster vaccination later, the number of booster shots is limited."

"We hope that in the future, there will be better vaccines and better vaccination procedures to achieve strong protection for people," he said.

Stick to the same type of vaccine

For the additional shot, Wang said the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization under the World Health Organization recommends taking the shot that uses the same technical route as what one already got.

China currently adopts the same strategy. For example, if one's first two doses are inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, the third dose should also be inactivated.

He explained that recommendations on a mix-and-match strategy for booster shots – using shots with different technical routes – would depend on more studies and evidence.

Wang also cautioned that the COVID-19 vaccine is not a substitute for the flu vaccine, and a 14-day interval is recommended between the two vaccinations.

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