More Chinese should be vaccinated against Flu epidemic

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After several rounds of snowfalls and cold waves in much of central China, it is now fighting a different battle, widespread Flu virus.

Hospitals are packed, doctors, especially ER doctors are overwhelmed by an influx of patients. It is an asymmetrical warfare, on the one side, widespread Flu virus sweeping a large part of this country, on the other side, less than two percent of Chinese people are vaccinated against the virus, leaving most of the population without basic protection.

We went to community health service centers and talked to parents, health workers at grass level and officials from centers for disease control in Henan, trying to find answers to extremely low Flu vaccination rate.

Henan children’s hospital receives up to ten thousand outpatients each day, and drugs for cold treatment are running short due to strong demand from a large number of patients.

Parents wait in line to have their kids vaccinated. /CGTN Photo

Although there is a long line in the community health service center, many parents we talked are not coming to get Flu vaccination, because Flu vaccines are not mandatory on the list vaccination list.

A child is receiving vaccination. /CGTN Photo

Most kids coming to receive Flu vaccination are under age three, we talked to parents, most of them told us they thought children above three are strong enough to stay immune from Flu virus, and none of the parents we talked to have received Flu vaccinations.

Kids vaccination

The name of each child is listed in the community health service center with a vaccination recording book. /CGTN Photo

Flu vaccination is not offered for free in most parts of China, even megacities like Beijing and Shanghai only offer free Flu vaccination for children and the senior above 65. Chinese Center for Disease Control told the media that free Flu vaccination for all citizens will put great financial pressure on the fiscal budget.

Nurses talking to parents about the benefit of getting vaccinated against Flu virus. /CGTN Photo

Less than two percent of Chinese people are vaccinated against Flu virus, while the number in developed countries like the United States and Europe is above 50 percent. This might be a major cause why Flu is so prevalent in China this winter.