A man gets his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a compartment. Photo: Li Hao/GT

More than nine million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been conducted in China, proving Chinese vaccines are safe, said a Chinese CDC official, noting the country is providing the vaccine to the public free of charge.

Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission said on a Saturday press conference that nine million doses of China-developed COVID-19 vaccines have been conducted in China, proving that the Chinese vaccines are safe, and the country is committed to vaccinating all those who are eligible in order to build immunity and cut the spread of the virus.

Medical workers check the temperature of people waiting for COVID-19 vaccine doses at a vaccination site in Shijingshan district of Beijing on Monday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

 Li Tao from the National Healthcare Security Administration said that the COVID-19 vaccines are free to the public. The cost of the vaccine should be covered  by medical insurance and governments, said Li.

Zeng vowed that China will push forward vaccination for high-risk groups, including people who are at high risk of contracting the virus and ordinary people.

Wang Qinghua, chief immunologist of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that China has recorded an adverse reaction in only one in a million vaccinated. No abnormal situation has been found, according to Wang.

Progress of the world’s COVID-19 vaccination Infographic: GT

Health experts said Chinese vaccines are effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 among people who come in contract with new imported coronavirus variants.

Zeng said the antibody provided by the vaccine can neutralize both viral strains found in China's early stage of outbreak and new viral strains.

"The result has boosted our confidence… that at least for now, the new viral strain won't impair our vaccine's efficiency," he said.

Faced with recent sporadic COVID-19 flare-ups, China's top health authority is urging people to reduce travel and spend the Chinese New Year holiday in the city where they work.

Global Times