China vaccinates over 80% of its people against COVID-19

China has vaccinated 82.5% of its population of 1.41 billion against COVID-19, a health official said.

A total of 1.162 billion have received the required number of doses to complete vaccinations, Wu Liangyou, an official of the National Health Commission (NHC) told a news briefing, adding that 120.6 million had received a booster shot.

Despite the high national rate, vaccination coverage was patchy among the elderly, a vulnerable group facing a high risk of severe cases and death after infection.

Vaccination rates for those older than 80 were slightly above 40%, falling below 30% in some areas, said Zheng Zhongwei, another NHC official, in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.

Photo – A medical worker prepares a shot of Sinovac Biotech vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus disease at a community health station in Yantai, east China’s Shandong province. EPA-EFE/WEN TAN