People receive vaccines from Covid-19 at a temporary vaccination center in Beijing on January 8
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China managed more than 9 million doses of anti-coronavirus vaccine as the country prepares for a possible increase in infections during the winter.
About 7.5 million doses have been administered since December 15, officials said at a news conference in Beijing. Vaccines are free for all citizens and the costs will be covered by the Medicare fund and tax budgets, they said.
China sees a greater risk of spreading the virus in winter, as people travel and gather for the holidays, National Health Commission deputy chief Zeng Yixin told reporters.
Vaccination implantation is primarily focused on high-risk population groups because production capacity cannot keep up, Zeng said. Capacity is steadily increasing now and will allow doses to be administered to the general public, he said, without giving a deadline.
China is “active, open and supports” a visit to Wuhan from the World Health Organization to investigate the origins of the virus, said Zeng. China has lined up its own experts to work with WHO experts in Wuhan. The timing of the WHO team’s arrival in China is still being confirmed, he said.
– With the help of John Liu and Dingmin Zhang
(Adds comments on vaccine costs, WHO in the second, last paragraphs)