Part 6/15:

The situation might have been mitigated with better planning—gradual easing of restrictions, ramped-up vaccination campaigns, especially among the elderly, and stockpiling medical supplies. But the abrupt policy shift appears to have been executed without adequate safeguards, leading to chaos and preventable suffering.

Vaccination Challenges and Immunity Gaps

A key issue is vaccination coverage, especially among older populations. While nearly 90% of Chinese have received two doses, only about 55% have had a third shot, and even fewer have received additional boosters. Many seniors harbor distrust toward China-made vaccines like Sinovac and Sinopharm, perceiving them as less effective, especially against variants like Omicron.