Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, has begun offering COVID-19 booster shots to people over 18 who have already been vaccinated for more than six months amid rising evidence of the effectiveness of an additional dose to improve immunity.
 
The move was officially initiated on Oct 10.
 
Key groups will be prioritized in the initial stage, including people at higher risk of contracting the virus, including workers in cold chains, customs, transportation, centralized quarantine sites, and in the health services sector, as well as those who plan to travel abroad, people over 60 years old, and people with immunodeficiency or low immune function
 
People intending to get an additional shot will be given the same vaccine produced by the same company as their original shot.
 
People who received inactivated vaccines and wish to receive a booster shot will be given the same vaccine as their second dose.
 
If supplies for the second dose run short, using the first dose of vaccine as the vaccine booster is acceptable as well.
 
People vaccinated with adenovirus vectors must be boosted with the original vaccine.
 
People who wish to receive booster shots should visit the same site where they got vaccinated last time and must bring their ID cards, passports, or household registration permits.