[Explanation] On October 24, the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism held a press conference.
Regarding the issue of new crown vaccination patients who have to add booster shots after two injections are generally administered, Wang Huaqing, chief expert of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization program, said that the expert group recommends that the key populations are mainly high-risk populations six months after the completion of the full immunization. Strengthen immunization, people over 60 years of age can consider the work of strengthening immunization.
[Concurrent] Wang Huaqing, Chief Expert of Immunization Program, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The expert group recommends that six months after the completion of the entire immunization process, booster immunizations for key populations, mainly high-risk populations, should be carried out.
These key groups include personnel from customs, border inspections, aviation, quarantine observation points, and designated hospitals, as well as personnel who go to study abroad and may face high risks.
In addition, it is recommended that the immune function is low or immunodeficiency, including the elderly over 60 years old, can consider carrying out the work of strengthening immunization.
[Explanation] At present, the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic has become normal. Will continuous vaccination of new crown pneumonia become a normal state in the future?
Wang Huaqing said that continuous strengthening of immunization is not the final choice.
[Concurrent] Wang Huaqing, Chief Expert of Immunization Program, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The new crown (pneumonia) disease is a new infectious disease, the virus is a new virus, especially the vaccine used now is also a new vaccine, here includes a number of technical routes.
To determine the best procedure for it, continuous research is needed to explore this issue. We hope that an ideal vaccine will have a good effect after the entire course of immunization.
Even if it needs to be strengthened later, the number of boosters is limited, so we hope that in the future there will be better vaccines and better vaccination procedures to achieve its protective effect.
It is not our final choice to continuously strengthen immunization and carry out intensive vaccination.
[Explanation] Wang Huaqing said that there is a risk of overlapping epidemics of new crown and flu this winter and next spring. Influenza vaccine is the most effective way to prevent influenza. It is recommended that the interval between influenza vaccine and new crown vaccine be at least 14 days, and the new crown vaccine cannot replace the flu vaccine.
[Concurrent] Wang Huaqing, Chief Expert of Immunization Program, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Since March of this year (2021), the country's influenza activity has been higher than that of the same period last year.
Especially since September, the level of influenza activity in some southern provinces of China has shown an obvious upward trend.
Experts have estimated that there will be a flu epidemic this winter and next spring, and if the new crown emerges again, there may be a superimposed risk.
Influenza vaccine is the most effective way to prevent influenza, especially after vaccination for infants and the elderly can reduce the risk of (serious) complications.
Dong Zeyu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】