Chongqing- The challenge of aging is becoming more and more daunting in recent years for the Chinese. However, a coordinated service system for the elderly population has been developed in South West China's Chongqing.
Can the elderly with limited mobility get vaccinated against COVID-19 at home? Can the elderly with many underlying health conditions, or chronic diseases, be vaccinated? Han Zhenming, the associate chief physician of the Institute of Immunization Planning of the Chongqing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, answered questions on March 25.
A medical worker took a swab sample from a man for a COVID-19 nucleic acid test. (iChongqing/ Zhang Deng)
Q: Is it necessary for the elderly to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
A: COVID-19 vaccination is one of the most economical and effective measures to prevent COVID-19 disease. Compared with young people, the elderly aged 60 and above are at higher risk of illness and death with a heavy disease burden and serious health damage after contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Especially the elderly with chronic diseases are more likely to develop severe diseases and die after getting COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary for the elderly, including those with underlying health conditions, to get vaccinated, as long as without the contraindication of COVID-19 vaccination.
Q: Can the elderly with limited mobility be vaccinated at home?
A: COVID-19 vaccines are safe compared with the harm of the COVID-19 virus. Though the vaccine is a foreign body to the human body, very few people experience adverse reactions after vaccination.
The COVID-19 vaccination station has equipped with complete rescue facilities and staff, where it is more timely and effective to get treatment at the station when adverse reactions occur. So it is recommended that the elderly with limited mobility be accompanied by their children or their guardians to the station for vaccination.
Suppose the elderly cannot go to the vaccination station and have a demand for COVID-19 vaccination service at home. In that case, they can contact the staff of the local community and neighborhood committee. The employees from neighborhood committees will contact the medical staff of the vaccination station in the area, and the vaccination station will arrange door-to-door vaccination.
Whether someone is vaccinated at the station or at home, it is encouraged to stay for 30 minutes for observation after receiving the vaccine.
Q: What are the conditions in which vaccination is not recommended or postponed for the elderly over 60?
1) Those who are allergic to the active ingredient of the vaccine, to any one of the inactive ingredients, to substances used in the manufacturing process, or to previous vaccinations of the same kind;
2) Those with a previous history of severe anaphylaxis to the vaccine (such as acute anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, etc.);
3) Those with uncontrolled epilepsy and other severe neurological disorders (such as transverse myelitis, Guillain Barr é syndrome, demyelinating disorders, etc.);
4) Those who are febrile or suffering from an acute illness, an acute exacerbation phase of chronic disease, or an uncontrolled severe chronic disease.
Elderly care has become the focus of people's attention in China. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
(Wang Lu, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)