Update (Thursday April 22, 2021 2.20pm CST): The latest health code application regulations require those who accept foreign vaccines to also accept nucleocapsid (N) protein tests. Tao Lina, a Shanghai-based vaccine expert, said the regulations posted by the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC were “far from an indication that China is now recognizing foreign vaccines,” as cited by state-run newspaper Global Times. The article and title have been updated to reflect the intended meaning of the Chinese embassy guidelines.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington DC published an online notice on April 16 that included an updated health code application regulations for foreign COVID-19 vaccine recipients in the US. The regulations apply to visa applicants with positive IgM test results, which could be caused by vaccines or infection.
Those who received Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines will also have to take nucleocapsid (N) protein tests.
Screengrab via Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America
In the notice, the Embassy also reminded people to avoid traveling for non-emergency purposes.
Last month, Chinese embassies announced that visa rules would be eased for recipients of China-produced vaccines – despite only being available in a limited number of countries.
Applicants who accept Chinese vaccines will be eligible to apply for a Chinese health code – which will allow them to move more freely in the country.
READ MORE: Getting a China-produced Vaccine May Help Your Visa Application
China is planning to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by July and would become the first foreign COVID-19 vaccine to be authorized in the PRC if approved, as cited by Reuters.
China has already launched a mass vaccination rollout for Chinese nationals and foreigners. To find out how to get vaccinated in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, click here.
According to the New York Times world COVID-19 vaccination tracker, more than 919 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide as of April 20.
China has administered 195 million vaccine doses. The US has fully vaccinated 26% of the population and administered 211 million doses as of press time.
[Cover image via Pixabay]
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