Expressions of confidence
“Sharing the experience of going back to China to get the coronavirus vaccine on social media accounts has become one of the most popular forms of bragging,” Catherine Zhu ( pseudonym), a naturalized Swiss citizen living in Zurich who is originally from China, told the Global Times.
Zhu spent nearly 70,000 yuan ($ 10,710) to get a one- way ticket back to China from Switzerland in late October, completing coronavirus nucleic acid and antibody tests with negative results within 48 hours before boarding, facing the possible risk of infection on the plane, and finally going through 14 days of
quarantine. After getting the second dose of the COVID- 19 vaccine made by China's Sinovac Biotech, Zhu said she thought all the tedious procedures of returning home were worthwhile. “In Switzerland, the high number of new COVID- 19 cases and the difficulty in availing the vaccine made me anxious all the time. Although we were reading in the media every day that the vaccine was coming, we were well aware of the fact that priority would be given to people over the age of 80,” said Zhu. “I decided to go back to China to get vaccinated at the first chance I had,” she added, revealing her enthusiasm to return after seeing reports that COVID- 19 vaccines produced by Chinese enterprises had passed biosafety inspection and proven to be effective, with minor side effects.
According to
Zhu, there are currently many channels ls for overseas Chinese e coming to China to make an appointment for vaccination, including booking appointments through gh local federations of returned overseas Chinese, community management departments and companies. Zhu said she felt v very lucky th that she had no adverse rea reactions from the v vaccine. In China, she was free to vis visit relatives and friends w without any restrictions o or pressures, and even went to the 3rd China International Import Expo ( CIIE).
Zhu has returned to Switzerland where travelers from China are able to pass through customs quickly and return home without having to undergo quarantine and nucleic acid tests.
“For me, getting the vaccine is like wearing an armor. Although I will continue to wear a mask, wash my hands frequently and practice social distancing in the face of the severe epidemic situation in Europe, I know that there is a force from my motherland protecting me, which makes me feel extremely relieved,” Zhu said.