Residents in the Wuqia County in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, receive COVID-19 vaccine on June 5, 2021. Photo: VCG

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has become the latest region in the country to launch a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines for its residents. Instead of focusing on key groups, the region said it will provide the shot to all local adults who completed vaccination six months prior. 

Local media ts.cn reported on Wednesday that the region plans to provide booster shots from October to December to vaccine receivers aged 18 and above who have been inoculated with two shots of inactivated vaccines or one shot of adenovirus vector vaccine for more than six months.

The level of antibodies in vaccine recipients decline, even disappear, after a certain period following the inoculation. One more shot at this time would not only boost the antibody level, but also expand the antibody repertoire, ts.cn reported, citing experts from Xinjiang regional disease control and prevention center.

So far, at least 13 provinces and regions in China, such as East China's Anhui and Fujian provinces and Central China's Hubei Province, have initiated programs to enhance residents' immunity against COVID-19.

"Studies prove that the level of neutralizing antibodies would decline after six months following inoculation, a booster shot at this time would enhance antibodies and prolong protection, as well as largely increase efficacy to prevent infection and hospitalization," Jin Hui, a public health expert from Southeast University, told people.cn on Wednesday. 

But Jin noted that every person should receive one booster shot, but it does not mean that recipients should receive one shot every six months. 

Global Times