On November 1st, 2021, TGA recognised Sinopharm vaccines for travellers aged 18 to 60, which is a good news to many Chinese families. But the age restriction for Sinopharm vaccines has also made hopes for family union crumbled to dust for families whose parents received two doses of Sinopharm and both aged 60 and over.

In China, a lot of seniors aged 60 and over prefer to receive Sinopharm vaccine due to its minor side effects and high success rate in preventing COVID. In Guangdong province, there is a very high percentage of people aged 60 and over receive Sinopharm instead of Sinovac. In China, the effect of Sinopharm is said to be indifferent to Sinovac in terms of preventing getting COVID. However, the exclusion of Sinopharm vaccine for age group of 60 and over has made a big difference to families who receive the so-called same effect vaccine. Currently due to the limit of hotel quarantine, parents who are aged 60 and over and received Sinopharm cannot even take on an economic class flight to Australia. In order to get a seat for hotel quarantine, parents who are aged 60 and over and received two doses of Sinopharm need to book the business class flight in order to secure a seat for hotel quarantine. The sky-high air ticket price together with the hotel quarantine costs has created a significant burden for families who want their parents to come over to Australia for family union.

During COVID period, a lot of young families gave birth to their first or second child, the period after giving birth is a time when young families need their parents’ help most. Due to the lack of experience to look after a newborn and the expensive nanny fee (around $300/day and no reimbursement), young families really hope their parents can come over to give a hand. If grandparents can come over, it will make mum’s life easier, baby will receive better care due to more people looking after one/two child, and it will also help mum return to work earlier. On the other hand, grandparents are also keen to visit their grandson/granddaughters. I have a one-year-old baby and his grandparents really want to come over to Australia to visit their very first grandson, they want to give him a cuddle, feed him, play with him and teach him new things. But both my parents and my husband’s parents are 60 and over and they all receive two doses of Sinopharm. Ever since the inclusion of parents in the immediate family member, we have been trying to get my parents or my parents in law to come to Australia. But we always receive disappointed message, one time the flight said only fully vaccinated people (people who receive two doses of recognised vaccine) can go on board, one time they informed us there is no availability of hotel quarantine just one day before the flight.

We note that TGA has recognised Sinovac for any age group and we sincerely hope TGA can recognise Sinopharm for any age group as well.

Sometimes life is hard, and we can make it easier.