Getting China’s old people vaccinated has been slow work
It needs to speed up, fast
When other countries set about vaccinating their populations against covid-19, they began with those most likely to die from the disease. China did the opposite. Instead of focusing on the elderly and people with medical conditions that made them more vulnerable, it started with healthy working-age groups. When officials began paying more attention to getting older people jabbed, they were cautious, fearing side-effects. Now, belatedly, they see the urgency of the task.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Obstinate elders”
From the December 10th 2022 edition
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