Public likely to receive vaccines in February

Vaccinations for the general public against COVID-19 are expected to start around Spring Festival, which begins on Feb 12, China's health authorities said.

By Saturday, China had administered over 9 million shots of COVID-19 vaccine to people deemed at high risk of contracting the disease, including workers in customs, medicine and healthcare, the cold chain industry, public transportation, and produce and seafood markets, and no severe abnormal reactions had been reported, said senior health officials.

As vaccine production ramps up, the rollout will gradually cover other demographics including the general public, Zeng Yixin, vice-minister of the National Health Commission, said during a news briefing held by the State Council Information Office on Saturday. The public can receive the vaccine free of charge, he added.