CCTV:
We know that vaccines are the most effective means to prevent infectious diseases, but recent media reports said that some people in South Korea have had adverse reactions and even died after getting flu vaccines, causing more panic. Are the flu vaccines safe enough? What types of viruses can they prevent? Thank you.
Li Bin:
Let me brief you on it.
We have been paying close attention to it since the media reported deaths from influenza vaccination in South Korea. We have organized experts to study it and have been following it up.
In terms of the classification of vaccines in China, influenza vaccines belong to non-immunization program vaccines, which is what we commonly call "Class II vaccines." "Class II vaccines" are vaccinated by residents voluntarily and at their own expense. This year, we have carefully summarized past experience in regards to the supply of influenza vaccines. In conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Medical Products Administration and other departments, we have discussed and coordinated the production of vaccines in advance to tap the potential and expand the production capacity of China's vaccines. In terms of our country's vaccine production this year, we have doubled production compared to last year. China's vaccine production in 2020 is the largest supply in the past five years. Recently, the people's demand for vaccination has increased, and their willingness for vaccination is also increasing. In response to this situation, the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Drug Administration have intensified the work of vaccine deployment.
Throughout the vaccination process, we have taken some measures, such as increasing influenza vaccination sites, starting vaccinations early, implementing a reservation registration system, extending the vaccination cycle, launching time-division vaccinations and increasing daily service hours, which are measures to provide convenient services for the general public.
Judging from the current vaccination situation, China's vaccination is reasonably deployed and arranged, and the country's current vaccination work is progressing orderly from north to south. There is a data, as of Nov. 9, that the national flu vaccine vaccination volume is about 25 million doses, which is close to last year's vaccination volume. The influenza vaccine is an effective means of preventing influenza. At the same time, as I have just introduced, I still want to remind the general public to pay attention to personal protection. Prevention is very pivotal. It is necessary to wear masks scientifically and develop a good habit of hand hygiene, which means washing your hands frequently, while avoiding contact with your eyes, mouth, and nose with your hands before hands are washed. In addition, as we are going into the winter season, everyone's home should be ventilated frequently, which is also a very effective way. And the office should also be ventilated frequently. Then there is a need to pay attention to safe social distancing, everyone should try to avoid crowded environments and pay attention to personal protection. These protective measures and methods are very effective. That's all I can say. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you to all the speakers, and thank you, friends from the press. This is the end of the press conference of the State Council's inter-agency task force. Goodbye everyone.
Translated and edited by Wang Qian, Zhang Rui, Zhang Liying, Zhu Bochen, Xiang Bin, Huang Shan, He Shan, Guo Yiming, Gong Yingchun, Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Zhiyong, Zhang Jiaqi, Liu Jianing, Li Xiao, Liu Sitong, Ma Yujia, Yang Xi, Geoffrey Murray, David Ball, Laura Zheng, Tom Arnstein, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any dispute over a perceived discrepancy, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
