The authoritative response of the joint prevention and control mechanism in the State Council： people aged 18 and over who have been vaccinated for 6 months can be vaccinated with booster shots.

CCTV News:At present, many places have begun to vaccinate Covid-19 vaccine booster. What’s the policy for booster shots? Who can be vaccinated first?

Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the CDC of the National Health and Wellness Commission:Recently, the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council started the work of strengthening the immunization of Covid-19 vaccine, and people aged 18 and above who have completed the inactivated vaccine of Sinopharm Zhongsheng Beijing Company, Beijing Kexing Company and Sinopharm Zhongsheng Wuhan Company and the adenovirus vector vaccine of Tianjin Kangxinuo Company for six months can be strengthened with one dose. According to the needs of epidemic prevention and control, at present, strengthening immunization is given priority to those who are infected with high-risk groups and who are in key positions to ensure the basic operation of society. At the same time, we require all localities to consider the needs of epidemic prevention and control at ports, borders, major events and other factors, such as high-risk groups with high risk of serious illness after infection, such as people aged 60 and over, and expand and strengthen the scope of immunization population. Enhanced immunization services are also provided to other eligible people who need vaccination.

Autumn and winter are the seasons with high incidence of influenza. Do people who have been vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccine still need to be vaccinated with influenza? What should be paid attention to when the elderly and children are vaccinated with influenza vaccine? Wang Huaqing, Chief Expert of Immunization Program of China CDC, answered a reporter’s question.

Wang Huaqing, Chief Expert of Immunization Program of China CDC:Since March 2021, the national influenza activity has been higher than the same period last year. Especially since September, the level of influenza activity in some provinces in southern China has shown an obvious upward trend. Experts have comprehensively judged that there may be the risk of influenza epidemic this winter and next spring, and if COVID-19 appears again, there may be overlapping risks. The role of COVID-19 vaccine has been well reflected in the process of preventing COVID-19. Influenza vaccine is the most effective means to prevent influenza, especially for infants and the elderly, which can reduce the risk of serious complications. At the same time, influenza vaccination cannot replace COVID-19 vaccine. The technical guidelines for influenza vaccination in China have identified the priority groups for influenza vaccination, including the elderly and children, which are the key groups for influenza prevention and control. In the technical guideline of vaccination in Covid-19, it is suggested that the interval between influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine should be more than 14 days.