Recently, there has been a resurgence of the COVID-19 (CCP virus) outbreak in mainland China. Various provinces in China have shifted from free COVID-19 vaccine administration to paid vaccination. Provinces such as Heilongjiang, Shandong, and Anhui have recently announced the prices of the COVID-19 vaccines. The highest-priced vaccine is the CanSino inhalable vaccine, priced at 1114 yuan per dose.
Doctors in China are questioning whether the public will be willing to receive the vaccines as the virus continues to mutate, raising concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the vaccines.
Hospitals and community health service centers in various parts of China have notified the public that COVID-19 vaccines will now be administered at a cost, attracting widespread attention due to this swift policy change.
On August 15, Shandong Province’s centralized pharmaceutical procurement platform publicly disclosed prices for 8 COVID-19 vaccines. The lowest-priced vaccine is the nasal spray flu virus carrier COVID-19 vaccine produced by Walvax Biotechnology, priced at 136 yuan per 0.2 ml dose.
The most expensive vaccine is the inhalable recombinant SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 variant vaccine (5 adenovirus vector) produced by CanSino, priced at 1114 yuan for a 0.5 ml dose (3 doses for one person) or 371.3 yuan per single dose.
Another high-priced vaccine is the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 fusion protein bivalent vaccine (prototype strain/Omicron XBB variant), produced by LIZHU Antibody, priced at 408 yuan for a 0.5 ml dose. The prices for other vaccines are around 300 yuan per single dose.
Furthermore, Heilongjiang and Anhui provinces have also announced their procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
According to a report from the People’s Daily Health Client, on the 18th, it was reported that the procurement process has been completed, and after distribution and delivery to the designated locations, residents can make appointments for vaccination.
In a report by a certified general practitioner named Dr. Ren from Zhejiang, he expressed concerns about the recent resurgence of the virus and noted the increase in infection cases around him. Despite the free vaccination policy offered over the past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, public participation has not met expectations. With vaccine prices now ranging from 126 yuan to over a thousand yuan and all produced domestically, the question remains – are people willing to get vaccinated?
He pointed out the uncertainty surrounding the vaccine’s effectiveness and the continuous mutations of the virus, making the long-term effectiveness of the vaccines unknown. Many people are looking towards natural immunity and improving their own immune systems as the ultimate solution.
A blogger from Shandong, identified as “Gengchen4131,” commented humorously on social media discussions about the latest news of paid Covid-19 vaccinations. She questioned who would be willing to get vaccinated if it’s not mandatory and asked whether ordinary people are willing to get vaccinated at their expense.
She shared her own experience of contracting COVID-19 despite previously being fully vaccinated, suffering from persistent coughing and urinary incontinence, leading to job loss due to health issues. She expressed her reluctance to pay for the vaccine this time, emphasizing that as long as it is not mandatory, she sees no point in getting vaccinated.
Another blogger from Beijing, “Moming said,” emphasized the significant price differences of the newly announced COVID-19 vaccines, sparking widespread discussions among the public regarding the cost of vaccine selection and health protection. Some netizens stated that they wouldn’t even get vaccinated if they were paid. Others expressed concerns about the implications of the pricing adjustments and their impact on public health decision-making.
Many online users echoed similar sentiments and shared their reluctance to get vaccinated at a cost, highlighting the various perspectives and concerns surrounding the ongoing vaccination campaign in China.