In between Golden Week and Halloween, guess what time it is? It’s time to get your flu shot!
Ugh, do I have to, you may ask? Yes! Please do! The earlier the better. Especially considering how even a stuffy nose can get your child sent home from school in almost-post-pandemic Beijing. Even if your child only has a fever and not the flu, you need no fever for a minimum of three and up to seven before they can return, also usually with a doctor’s note.
I know, I’m very passionate about this. It’s because vaccinations help everyone, and kids are just little petri dishes of germs. We had to miss all the Halloween activities at their school last year because of the flu. No one wants that. And while we wait for a COVID-19 vaccination, let’s do everything else we possibly can to stop the spread of other germs.
This is your child’s hands 90% of the day.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) stresses that “You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in your community since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.”
If your child is six months or older, there is a flu vaccine available. Special considerations are taken for pregnant women and people over the age of 65, but many options are still safe. In fact, the only at-risk group that needs special consideration is anyone with an egg allergy, and even then you can ask for a quadrivalent recombinant vaccine and quadrivalent cell-based vaccine, two egg-free options.
So here are the top places where you may want to go for your family’s flu vaccine.
Beijing United Family Hospital
The flu vaccine is available now, but their hours are limited during Golden Week. Make an appointment by scanning the QR code below to register and a member of their Service Center will follow-up to book your appointment.
Website: ufh.com.cn/en
Address: Beijing United Family Hospital: 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区将台路2号
Hours: Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm (may be different during Golden Week). 24-hour emergency care.
Vista Medical Center provides the Sanofi Pasteur’s production Vacigrip* split-virion Influenza vaccination. Call for an appointment. Payment must be made in advance.
Adults: RMB 80 / dose, Children: RMB 80 / dose
Children (six – 36 months): RMB 820 / package (includes one-time consultation and two times flu injection)
Website: www.vista-china.net/en
Address: 3/F, Kerry Centre, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区光华路1号嘉里中心3层
Hours: Daily 24hrs
Phone: 8529 6618
To book vaccination, please call 400-UR-OASIS at least 24 hours in advance. Total prices are below with the clinic fee already included in the price.
Domestic vaccination: RMB 153 – 500
Imported vaccination: RMB 500 – 610
Website: www.oasishealth.cn/l-en
Address: 9 Jiuxianqiao Beilu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区酒仙桥北路9号
Hours: Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm (some clinics open from 8.30am-12.30pm), daily 24 hours emergency care
Phone: 400 876 2747
As of publication, these two don’t have specific information on their vaccinations, but they typically offer them at this time of year.
Website: www.rafflesmedical.com/international
Address: 205, Wing 1, Kunsha Bldg, 16 Xinyuanli, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区新源里16号琨莎中心一座105室Hours: Daily 8am-8pm
Phone: 65 6311 1222
Email: specialist@raffleshospital.com
Amcare Women and Children’s Hospital
Website: www.amcare.com.cn
Address:
Lido branch: 9 Fangyuanxilu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区芳园西路9号
Hours: 8am-4:30pm
Yayuncun branch: Bldg 5 Yiyuan, Anhui Beili, Chaoyang District 朝阳区安慧北里逸园5号楼
Hours: 24 hours
Wanliu branch: 7 Wanliuzhonglu, Haidian District 海淀区万柳中路7号
General outpatient center: Bldg 3 Yiyuan, Anhui Beili, Chaoyang District 朝阳区安慧北里逸园3号楼
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