The Shenzhen Samii International Medical Center (SSIMC) has administered more than 22,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to local residents and foreigners living in Shenzhen as of May 17.

The hospital remained up and running during weekends and national holidays, with its professional medical staff and volunteers continuing to work tirelessly to provide a vital service during this pandemic.

The highest single-day COVID-19 vaccination coverage by the hospital so far has reached nearly 1,500 doses. The hospital currently can provide up to 3,000 vaccine doses a day.

Putting safety first in COVID-19 inoculation, SSIMC has organized a special team to ensure the provision of safe vaccination services. The team, composed of doctors, nurses and volunteers, have received regular professional training and strict assessment.

The hospital has set up areas for waiting, registration, inoculation and observation with bilingual signs and guidelines outlining the vaccination steps, with bilingual medical staff and volunteers available to provide immediate help.

A total of 10 inoculation rooms are in place to help reduce the waiting time. Meanwhile, the hospital provides nearly 300 soft chairs to vaccine recipients for the 30-minute observation period after vaccination and offers drinking water and snacks to reduce their anxiety.

A special vaccination room for lying-position injection is also available for patients with needle sickness or those unable to receive the doses in a seated position.

SSIMC, one of the eight designated COVID-19 vaccination sites for foreigners, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents in Shenzhen, is also able to provide the English versions of documents including informed consent forms, epidemiological questionnaires, disclaimers, and vaccination prescriptions and certificates for English speakers, in line with the hospital’s international background.