Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Finance has specially allocated funds to support groups such as the elderly aged 65 and above in rural areas to receive free influenza vaccines, and to provide free one-dose trivalent influenza virus split vaccine to key groups of "one old and one young" in rural areas.
At present, in accordance with national policy requirements, various localities are intensively carrying out free influenza vaccination for "one old and one young" in rural areas. Who can get the flu vaccine for free, where to get it, and how to let more people enjoy the policy? The reporter interviewed industry experts.
Q: Why should free influenza vaccination be provided to “the elderly and the young” in rural areas?
Answer: Autumn and winter are the peak seasons for influenza. The elderly and children have weak immune systems and are susceptible to influenza. Influenza vaccination is the most economical and effective way to prevent influenza and can significantly reduce the risk of severe illness and death. Wang Fujin, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends that people aged 6 months and above, especially key groups such as the elderly and children, patients with chronic diseases, and people in key places such as schools, nursing homes, and welfare homes, should receive influenza vaccines as early as possible before the epidemic season.
In the past, influenza vaccination was charged. In rural areas, people lived in scattered areas, with a high proportion of elderly people and children. There was little awareness and willingness to receive influenza vaccination, and the incidence of influenza was high. Implementing a free vaccination policy for them can attract more people to be vaccinated, form an immune barrier, and reduce influenza clusters.
Question: What type of people does "one old and one young" specifically refer to in rural areas?
Answer: "Yilao" refers to senior citizens aged 65 and above; "Yilao" refers to primary and secondary school students in the compulsory education stage.
For example, this year, the free influenza vaccination policy in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province has been further expanded: after the city’s elderly people aged 65 and above and children aged 3-6 are included in the municipal government’s free vaccination scope for people’s livelihood, primary and secondary school students in compulsory education in rural areas are also included in the free vaccination scope.
Q: Where can I get free flu vaccination? What are the principles, procedures and precautions for vaccination?
Answer: Currently, free influenza vaccination is available at the vaccination clinics of medical and health institutions such as county (city) hospitals and town health centers (community health service centers) in various places. Some places also implement door-to-door vaccination services by appointment for people in nursing homes, schools and other places.
Free influenza vaccination for "one old and one young" in rural areas follows the principles of informed consent, voluntariness and free of charge, and no fees are charged for the entire vaccination process. Before vaccination, the vaccination staff will inform you about the vaccine, people who are not suitable for vaccination, precautions after vaccination, etc. Vaccine recipients should also truthfully inform them of their recent physical condition and whether there are any contraindications to vaccination. The vaccine can be administered after the staff assesses and confirms that it can be vaccinated and the vaccinator signs the informed consent form. After vaccination, you should stay in the vaccination unit for 30 minutes, and you can leave only if there are no abnormalities. If you experience persistent discomfort after vaccination, you should seek medical treatment promptly and inform the vaccination unit. Elderly people over 65 years old are vaccinated with their resident ID cards. In addition to their ID cards, primary and secondary school students also need to bring vaccination certificates.
Question: How to let more rural people enjoy preferential policies?
Answer: On the one hand, we should do a good job in policy propaganda. For example, towns and villages in Shenyang Xinmin City jointly carry out multi-channel publicity: medical staff go into the community to face-to-face science popularization; rural loudspeakers broadcast loops, village WeChat groups push policies, and town and village cadres visit households to explain policies and answer questions on the spot to dispel people's concerns.
On the other hand, vaccination services should be optimized. For example, Yanzhou District, Jining City, Shandong Province launched a WeChat applet for influenza vaccine appointment, forming a model of "online one-click appointment + offline multi-point service". The Da'an Town Central Health Center in Yanzhou District provides extended vaccination clinic services and special weekend vaccinations; for disabled and semi-disabled elderly people with limited mobility in nursing homes, mobile vaccination teams are organized to carry out door-to-door vaccinations.
Question: How to pay for influenza vaccination for key groups of "one old and one young" in non-rural areas?
Answer: Some regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen in Guangdong have implemented free influenza vaccination policies for key groups such as the “elderly and the young” in non-rural areas. For example, Beijing has implemented a free influenza vaccine policy for senior citizens aged 60 and above, students in various primary and secondary schools, and frontline workers in key industries such as primary and secondary schools, nursing homes, medical institutions, and disease control agencies.
At present, most areas in my country only provide free influenza vaccination to "the elderly and the young" in rural areas. In non-rural areas, influenza vaccination for "the elderly and the young" can be paid using the employee medical insurance personal account. The employee medical insurance personal account can be used to pay for yourself and your insured close relatives (spouse, children, parents, etc.), covering influenza vaccine fees and injection service fees. You can use the influenza vaccine at designated medical institutions such as community health service centers and township health centers.
