Recently, amidst the financial difficulties faced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), several hospitals and grassroots health institutions in mainland China have issued notices announcing a shift from free COVID-19 vaccine shots to paid vaccination starting from July 15th. Netizens mocked this decision, saying, “Even if it’s self-paid, if it weren’t for you (the authorities) preventing children from attending school without vaccination, people wouldn’t get vaccinated even if you paid them.”
According to recent notifications from several hospitals in China, they have received directives from higher-level disease control centers to transition from free to paid COVID-19 vaccinations. This marks the end of over three years of free vaccination programs. The medical insurance funds will no longer cover the costs of this vaccine and its administration, and various levels of government finances will no longer provide subsidies to the medical insurance funds for this purpose.
Notices have been issued by institutions such as Xiamen University Affiliated First Hospital Gulangyu Hospital, the Hongshan Town Community Health Service Center in Gulou District, Fuzhou, and the Health center of Jinjiang District Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Jin’an District, Fuzhou, as well as the People’s Hospital of Jinchengjiang District, Hechi City, Guangxi.
The People’s Hospital of Jinchengjiang District, Hechi City, stated that the adjustment from free to paid vaccination was made in accordance with the notice issued by the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism for Epidemic Prevention and Control regarding the policy adjustment for COVID-19 vaccination.
Investors also questioned Watson Biotech Company, stating that Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a notice that starting from July 15th, COVID-19 vaccine shots would be subject to charges. Has Watson received any related notifications? The company responded that their RQ3033 vaccine is actively seeking approval for market authorization, and information regarding costs should adhere to the policies in place after the vaccine is approved for market (including conditional market approval).
As of now, many areas in China have not disclosed the specific costs for a single dose of the vaccine after July 15th.
In 2022, the National Healthcare Security Administration of the CCP announced that the expenditure on COVID-19 vaccines had exceeded 120 billion Chinese yuan as of March 31, 2022. Financial reports from Chinese domestic COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers at the time indicated significant profits.
This transition of COVID-19 vaccinations from free to paid has stirred discussions on Chinese social media platforms.
“Who is foolish enough to pay for it now?!” “Using preventing kids from going to school as a threat is pure evil.” “There’s no trust at all. They were deceivers from the beginning.” “Many, many people have been harmed.” “Those who endured the free daily vaccinations for over three years are now expected to pay for it themselves?” “Even if you pay me, I won’t get vaccinated.”
“Can I return the vaccine I received to them? My health has deteriorated.” “Last month, after noticing nodules on my lungs in a CT scan during a hospital stay, the doctor was surprised when I told him I hadn’t received the COVID-19 vaccine. Many people who got vaccinated have developed nodules.” “Those who still seek COVID-19 vaccination now are beyond help.” “They still dream of making money out of it!”
Since the CCP introduced domestically produced vaccines like Sinovac and Sinopharm to the public, many have reported adverse reactions post-vaccination, and some even claim that their relatives died after receiving the Chinese-made vaccines.
Back in January of this year, a document from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech Company circulated on social media, stating that the company had ceased all production of COVID-19 vaccines and had stopped distributing performance bonuses for employees in the COVID project.
At that time, overseas netizens criticized, saying, “You’re still paying bonuses?! The spirits of those harmed, disabled, or killed by the vaccine won’t let you go unpunished.” “What about the profits made from the vaccine sales earlier? Did the leaders take the money and run abroad?” “How many Chinese have been harmed by China’s vaccines? How many have suffered from post-vaccination effects and died? Poisonous vaccines.”