On March 19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that according to the recommendations made in the expert meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the clinical benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19 infection and severe symptoms after infection outweigh the risk of adverse reactions after vaccination, and it is recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine be offered to the priority groups as planned. Therefore, the CECC announced that vaccinations would start on March 22.

The CECC pointed out that some of the 116,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were transported to 57 injection sites today. These vaccine doses are scheduled to be offered to medical personnel who work at COVID-19 wards or negative pressure isolation wards, or who are responsible for specimen collection starting March 22.

As taking contraceptive pills and undergoing hormone therapy are risk factors for blood clotting, people receiving these two treatments are advised not to receive COVID-19 vaccination at this stage. Furthermore, members of the public who wish to get vaccinated are advised to consult their doctor and assess related risks before immunization.