At he beginning of 2021， the Chinese government said it will provide free COVID﹣19 vaccines（疫苗）to all Chinese citizens. Sine then， millions of people have gotten the vaccine. Let's make a closer look.

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The vaccine is given by injection （注射）. It's suggested to get two doses. You should wait about two weeks after the first dose to get the second one.

Can people of all ages get vaccinated？

The vaccines have been tested among three different age groups： 3 to 17， 18 to 59， and 60 and above. The 18﹣to﹣59 age group has the most data （数据）﹣﹣the vaccines have been proven to be safe to this group. The other two groups are expected to be included soon.

Is there anyone who shouldn't get vaccinated？

Experts say the vaccines are safe for most people. But people who have serious diseases such as cancer or diabetes （糖尿病），or people who are allergic （过敏的） to any of the vaccine's ingredients， should not get it. People who want to get the vaccine should not get any other vaccines during the same period.

Do I still need to wear a mask in public places after I've been vaccinated？

Yes. It takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. This means it's possible for a person to get infected （传染的） just after vaccination. There's also a small chance that your body won't build immunity. So before the population becomes immune to the virus， it's highly encouraged to keep wearing masks， practicing social distancing （社交隔离） and washing your hands after getting vaccinated.