More than 19,000 people in the Qingdao West Coast New Area have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since Qingdao began administering the vaccine to high-risk groups.

All vaccinations for front-line customs inspection and quarantine personnel involved in the import of cold-chain goods at ports, as well as high-risk groups involved in port loading, unloading, handling and transportation will be completed before Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 12 this year, said local officials.

A medical worker checks the identity of individuals who qualify for the vaccine at a healthcare center in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao, Shandong province on Jan 5. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A woman reads about the vaccination at a community health center in Qingdao West Coast New Area on Jan 5. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A medical worker enters the information of those who qualify for the inoculation at a community health center in Qingdao West Coast New Area. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A medical worker takes a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine out of the refrigerator at a healthcare center in Qingdao West Coast New Area on Jan 5. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A medical worker prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccine at a healthcare center in Qingdao West Coast New Area on Jan 5. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A medical worker inoculates a community worker with a COVID-19 vaccine in Qingdao West Coast New Area on Jan 5. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

People wait in the waiting area after getting the injection. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao residents who need to travel overseas for personal reasons ask about the vaccination at a healthcare center in Qingdao West Coast New Area on Jan 5. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]