Authorities urged to form plans to boost senior vaccination rates

The Chinese government has urged authorities at lower administrative levels to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates among those aged 60 and above by creating targeted plans, according to a notice outlining 10 measures released on Wednesday by the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism.

Suggested measures include setting up temporary or mobile vaccination stations, establishing special queues for seniors to expedite inoculations, ramping up training for medical workers so they can better identify people with contraindications, and improving awareness campaigns to motivate people to get the shots.

As part of efforts to optimize disease control measures, the notice also said that obstructing fire exits and apartment doors for the sake of COVID-19 control is strictly forbidden, and relevant authorities must ensure that people who are locked down have access to medical treatment and emergency escape routes.

Furthermore, it said that communities should connect with designated medical institutions to make medical services more convenient for minors, pregnant women, seniors who live alone and people with disabilities or chronic diseases. Psychological consultation and mental healthcare should also be stepped up for quarantined people, COVID-19 patients and frontline workers.