BEIJING: China will start inoculating some key groups with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines in this winter-spring period, a National Health Commission (NHC) official in Beijing said on Saturday.

In a two-step vaccination drive, the vaccines will be given first to priority groups, including those engaged in handling imported cold-chain products and people working in exposed sectors. These include port inspection and quarantine, aviation, public transport, fresh market, medical treatment, and disease control, NHC’s disease control department official Cui Gang said at a press conference.