As the flu season looms, concerns about flu symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches are on the rise. With many people wondering whether to get vaccinated, where to go to do so, and which vaccine to choose, the Shanghai Disease Control and Prevention Center has released a comprehensive guideline to address these common questions.

Question 1: Why get vaccinated?

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious acute respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. The influenza vaccination is an effective way to prevent the flu and reduce the risk of serious complications or even death. As the 2024-25 flu season is on the horizon, it is strongly advised that individuals aged 6 months and above get vaccinated promptly.

Question 2: Where can you get vaccinated?

Getting a flu shot is easy. Whether you are a local or an expatriate, you can use the "Smart Vaccination" feature on the "Suishenban 随申办" app, "Healthcare Cloud 健康云" app, or the Shanghai Disease Control and Prevention Center's official WeChat account (for detailed steps, please refer to Question 4) to find a vaccination site convenient to your home. You can choose from community clinics or specialized centers to book your appointment and get vaccinated.

Let us take "Healthcare Cloud 健康云" app as an example. "Health Cloud" is a platform that leverages residents' electronic health records to integrate healthcare resources and provide a unified health service platform for them. It offers comprehensive healthcare services, including health records, appointment scheduling, smart vaccination, and health information.

Step 1: Download the "Healthcare Cloud 健康云" app and register your personal account.

Step 2: Click on "智慧接种"(Smart Vaccination) on the homepage.

Step 3: Select "接种点查询" (Vaccination site inquiry) to find all community vaccination clinics, public specialized clinics, and private specialized clinics in Shanghai.

Step 4: You can select the "Type of vaccination clinic" and "Vaccination type," and it will show all eligible clinic locations and whether they are open.

Step 5: Look up your nearest community clinic and book a spot for your flu shot, either online or by phone. Or, if you prefer, you can choose a specialized clinic and schedule your visit.

Question 3: What are the types of flu vaccines available?

This year, China has approved a range of flu vaccines, including trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines, trivalent live attenuated influenza vaccines, and quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines. For those aged three to 17, the trivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine is also an option. There is no one preferred vaccine, so choose the one that best suits your needs.

Question 4: How do you book an appointment online?

Shanghai's digital infrastructure makes it easy to book your flu vaccine appointment through apps including "Suishenban 随申办," and "Healthcare Cloud 健康云," as well as the Shanghai Disease Control and Prevention Center's official WeChat account 上海疾控.

Again, we will use the "Healthcare Cloud 健康云" app to show how to book an appointment online.

Step 1: After you access the "智慧接种" (Smart Vaccination) page, click the "+" button to switch to the "添加受种人" (Add vaccine recipient) page, and fill in the personal information.

Register with your mobile number and add the recipient's ID or vaccination barcode to book an appointment. No health insurance card is needed.

Step 2: Go back to the "智慧接种" (Smart Vaccination) page and click "预约接种" (Vaccination appointment). Select the "流感疫苗" (Flu vaccine).

Step 3: If a clinic has the vaccine in stock, you can directly schedule your vaccination time.

Question 5: How can vaccination appointments be made for children?

Adults can make appointments on behalf of children by adding them as recipients and filling in the required details on the "智慧接种" (Smart Vaccination) page in the same way as above.

Question 6: If your local vaccination clinic is out of flu vaccine, can you sign up for a notification when it becomes available?

If your local clinic is out of stock, you can register for a vaccine shortage notification. Clinics will send SMS notifications when the vaccine is available, and you can then proceed with online appointment scheduling.

Question 7: If you have already made an appointment, how do you change the time?

Step 1: To modify your flu vaccine appointment, click on "预约登记记录" (Appointment registration record) on the "智慧接种" (Smart Vaccination) page to view your appointment and registration records.

Step 2: Find your appointment and click on "预约单详情" (Appointment details). From there, you can click on "取消预约" (Cancel appointment) and reschedule.

Question 8: How can elderly people who are not tech-savvy make vaccination appointments?

For those who are not tech-savvy, especially the elderly, offline appointments are available at community health clinics.

Stay ahead of the flu season and book your flu vaccine promptly. Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting vaccinated.