COVID-19 vaccines are currently being rolled out in China according to plan. The COVID-19 Vaccination Technical Guide (First Edition) indicates that vaccination is available for people aged 18 and above, so many parents may be wondering why children under the age of 18 cannot get vaccinated. Here are the responses from An Zhijie, Deputy Director of the Immunization Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Question 1: The vaccine is not yet available to people under the age of 18. How is the research on this progressing?

An Zhijie: Clinical research is currently being carried out for people under 18, but is not yet completed, mainly because it is not aimed at the general population.

Clinical trials entail experimental conditions with very strict standards for enrollment, controls, and tests. Once the data is complete, the relevant departments may further expand the range of eligibility for vaccination, so that people under the age of 18 can get the vaccines.

Many people are concerned about whether people with allergies can get a COVID-19 vaccine. In the COVID-19 Vaccination Technical Guide (First Edition), two of the vaccination restrictions are related to allergies. One applies to those who are allergic to the vaccine's active ingredients, inactive ingredients, or substances used in the production process, as well as those who have had an allergic reaction to any similar vaccines previously received; the second applies to those who have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccines in the past.

Then, many people will want to know, if they are allergic to pollen or antibiotics, can they still get a COVID-19 vaccine? Let's take a look at our expert's interpretation.

Question 2: If I have common allergies, can I still get vaccinated?

An Zhijie: The current vaccine does not contain any antibiotics, so antibiotic allergies do not restrict eligibility for vaccination. Other general allergies, such as allergic rhinitis, pollen allergies, etc., have no direct relationship with vaccine ingredients. Therefore, common allergies do not constitute a contraindication for vaccination.

Question 3: If one is allergic to the COVID-19 vaccine, what will be the symptoms?

An Zhijie: The probability of allergies to the vaccine is relatively low. But common allergic responses would include rashes, which may be transient (quickly healing on their own). Of course, we have also observed some serious allergic reactions, that is, anaphylactic shock. The probability of this occurrence is extremely low, generally less than one in a million.

Question 4: Since the incidence of severe allergies to the COVID-19 vaccine is so low, do I really need to stay at the vaccination site for half an hour of observation?

An Zhijie: The 30minute stay is a requirement mainly because severe allergies are most likely to occur at around 15 minutes after vaccination. As long as you were still at the vaccination site, any serious allergic responses such as laryngeal edema or allergic shock could be treated immediately and any further accidents prevented. The vaccine is reliable, so there is no need to worry about its overall safety. However, in order to manage the extremely rare incidences of allergic reaction, it is strongly recommended that after you receive your vaccination, you stay at the vaccination site for 30 minutes before leaving.

(Note: Content source is from CCTV.com.)