Beijing has established two new COVID-19 vaccination sites in its Economic-Technological Development Area (ETDA) in southeast Beijing's Daxing district as part of the Chinese capital's drive to inoculate all its residents.
One of the vaccination sites is on the ground floor of Dazu Shopping Mall, where people can receive the shots by simply showing their ID cards. The rest of the stores in the shopping mall are open and running as usual.
"I live quite near to the mall, and I think it's very convenient to have a vaccination spot near my residence," said one of the vaccine recipients.
Officials from the ETDA said the vaccination sites can inoculate around 500 people a day.
"All of our medical staff at the vaccination sites are from Beijing Tongren Hospital. They are quite professional and will guarantee the safety of the vaccination work," said Chen Qiuming, deputy director of Social Services Bureau at the Beijing ETDA. "People don't need to make a reservation before getting a jab. As long as they bring their ID cards, they can come to the spot and get a vaccine shot."
The other new vaccination site is in Nanhaizi Park. An open area though, it's got everything required for a fully functional vaccination station, including waiting, registration, vaccination and observation areas.
"We have a good sanitary environment here, and it meets the standards as a vaccination spot. We've got professional vaccine storage equipment, and we'll also disinfect the area every time after our vaccination work," said Shen Xin, a medical worker from Beijing Tongren Hospital.
Beijing's ETDA has administered over 400,000 doses of vaccines since January. As more and more people are willing to get the jab, local officials said they'll open up more vaccination spots to facilitate the residents.
"We estimate that by the end of April, we'll vaccinate all residents aged between 18-59 in the ETDA while building herd immunity through mass vaccinations in this region," said Chen.
Currently, over 10 million residents in Beijing have been vaccinated. The vaccination drive has now expanded to cover people over 60 and some pregnant women.
China's top virologist Shao Yiming said authorities are encouraging older people in good health to get the shot. As the Chinese-made vaccines now available on the market are inactivated, he said that means "they're safe for pregnant women."