Epidemic Information

Can We Remove Masks After Vaccination? What If I Find Out I’m Pregnant? Here’s the Response
• On March 21, the State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism held a press conference to discuss the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Below are key responses to public concerns:

  1. 74.956 Million Doses Administered Nationwide

  Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), announced that as of 24:00 on March 20, 74.956 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in China.
  
  
  • Travel Rules for Low-Risk Areas: Individuals with a "green health code" can travel freely in low-risk regions after temperature checks and proper personal protection (e.g., mask-wearing). Local governments must not impose additional travel restrictions arbitrarily.
  • Vaccination for Seniors Aged 60+: Some regions are already vaccinating healthy seniors over 60 who are at higher infection risk. Large-scale vaccination for this group will roll out promptly once clinical trials confirm sufficient safety and efficacy data.

  2. Can Individuals Choose Vaccine Brands?

  He Qinghua, First-Level Inspector at the NHC Disease Control Bureau, clarified:
  
  
  • Current Policy: All vaccines approved for use in China are safe and effective, but due to varying procurement plans across provinces, individuals should follow their local government’s vaccination arrangements.
  • Mixing Brands: Whether vaccines from different manufacturers can be used interchangeably or sequentially requires further research. Policies will be updated based on future study results.

  3. Mask-Wearing Still Required After Vaccination

  Feng Zijian, Deputy Director of the China CDC, emphasized:
  
  
  • With low domestic vaccination rates and ongoing global transmission—plus risks from imported cases/variants—masks must still be worn in crowded indoor or enclosed spaces, regardless of vaccination status, until herd immunity is achieved.

  4. Vaccine Production Capacity to Meet National Needs

  Mao Junfeng, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated:
  
  
  • 5 Approved Vaccines: 3 inactivated vaccines, 1 adenovirus vector vaccine, and 1 recombinant protein vaccine are available (with more technical routes pending approval).
  • Production Scale-Up: Output has already surged significantly since early February, and annual production will fully meet China’s vaccination needs under current plans.

  5. Reported Adverse Reactions

  Wang Huaqing, Chief Expert in Immunization at the China CDC, detailed:
  
  
  • Common Reactions: Mostly mild, including local symptoms (soreness, redness, swelling at the injection site) and systemic reactions (headache, fatigue, low-grade fever), which resolve independently.
  • Serious Reactions: Extremely rare. Monitoring focuses on individuals with a history of severe allergies or neurological disorders (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome), who are advised against vaccination.

  6. Vaccination and Pregnancy

  • Pregnant Women: While data on vaccine safety during pregnancy is limited, preliminary expert consensus states:
    • If pregnancy is detected after vaccination, there is no need to take special measures (e.g., abortion) solely due to the vaccine. Prenatal check-ups and follow-ups are recommended.
    • Lactating women at high infection risk (e.g., healthcare workers) can be vaccinated and should continue breastfeeding.

  7. Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

  Contraindications listed in vaccine instructions include:
  
  
  • Allergies to vaccine components or history of severe allergic reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema).
  • Uncontrolled epilepsy or neurological diseases (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome).
  • Pregnant women or those with acute/chronic diseases in active stages.

  8. Vaccine "Protection Failure" in Shaanxi Case

  Regarding a recent confirmed case in a closed isolation ward in Xi’an, Wang Huaqing noted:
  
  
  • Investigations are ongoing into the patient’s vaccination history and infection timeline.
  • Vaccines primarily protect against severe disease, not all infections. "Breakthrough cases" in a small minority may occur due to individual differences, requiring further research into causes.
  
  
  Source: State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Press Conference (March 21, 2021).
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