A citizen receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Shaoxing on April 9. [Photo/VCG]

Shaoxing in East China's Zhejiang province is helping foreign nationals in the city receive COVID-19 vaccinations since May, local media outlets reported.

Foreign nationals aged 18 and above who are covered under Zhejiang's social medical insurance scheme can receive the vaccine for free by presenting their insurance documents at the vaccination site. Those who do not have insurance would have to pay 100 yuan ($15.43) per dose.

They will receive China's domestic inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), of which two doses are required. The second dose will be given 14-28 days or 21-28 days after the first dose.

As of May 16, Yuecheng district has vaccinated over 50 foreigners, most of whom are students or businesspeople. Keqiao district has administered shots to over 200 expats, most of whom are permanent residents of the city.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has remained under control in Shaoxing for more than 450 days, but the recent outbreak affecting Anhui and Liaoning provinces has sounded the alarm for us," said an expert at the city's disease prevention and control center.

Residents in Shaoxing have received about 1.7 million doses of vaccinations. Expats who do not speak Chinese can ask their colleagues or employers for help to make an appointment, he added.