As China works to raise COVID-19 vaccination rates among its elderly population, authorities still face one major hurdle: the lingering fears among many old people that the jab could harm them.
Vaccinating the vulnerable has long been seen as crucial in China’s plans to open up after nearly three years of disruptive and economically damaging zero-COVID restrictions.
China’s health authority said on Wednesday that it would aim to improve accessibility and launch targeted programmes in nursing homes and leisure facilities as part of a new vaccination drive among the over-60s
He also pledged to do more to spread awareness of the benefits of vaccination and persuading the elderly and vulnerable that it is both safe and effective could be the hardest part of the campaign.
“Concerns about safety and lack of efficacy are probably the main reasons why older people refuse or delay vaccination,” said Florence Zhang, a researcher at the Chinese University of Jinan School of Medicine, who conducted studies on vaccine hesitancy in the elderly in China.
There were few immediate signs of increased participation rates at Shanghai’s local hospitals and specialized vaccination centres. Many elderly residents were still expressing concern about its impact on health.
“If I were fit for vaccination, I would get it,” said Cai Shiyu, a 70-year-old retiree. “But I had a heart stent, heart disease and high blood pressure: what if something happens?
A 76-year-old resident named Yang Zhijie agreed.
“Without vaccination, I already have so many diseases, and after having it, I am afraid that the conditions will become more serious.
China has offered vaccinations for the elderly since April 2021, but the take-up rate slowed noticeably this year.
By November, the proportion of people aged 60 and above to be fully vaccinated reached 86.4%, barely changing from 85.6% in August. Those who have received a booster jab increased to 68.2% from 67.8% over the period.
By contrast, the vaccination and booster rates in Japan were at more than 90%.
Public health experts have sought to explain why the take-up rate in China has been relatively low. Studies indicate that the elderly were deterred not by vaccine scepticism but by other factors like health, mobility and access.
The National Health Commission said it would take the campaign directly to residents of nursing homes and retirement facilities. However, they only account for around 3% of China’s elderly population, according to a research paper by Shanghai’s Fudan University in September.
The promise to deploy specialist vaccination vehicles and temporary vaccination stations could therefore prove more effective, with China vowing to deliver door-to-door services to those who are disabled or housebound and to provide staff to make sure they were properly monitored afterwards and treated if anything went wrong