China urges elderly to get COVID jab

Authorities in China are going door to door urging people older than 60 to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but some remain hesitant, citing a fear of side effects.

Beijing has renewed its vaccination drive as it tries to handle a wave of infections nationwide after the easing of its so-called "zero-COVID" strategy.

The National Health Commission announced a campaign on November 29 to raise the vaccination rate among older Chinese, which health experts say is crucial to avoiding a health care crisis. More than 90% of people in China have been vaccinated but only about two-thirds of those over 80, according to the National Health Commission.

China has 191 million people aged 65 and over, according to its 2020 census, a group that on its own would make up the eighth most populous country, ahead of Bangladesh.