Foreign minors who are covered by China's social security medical insurance program will receive the inoculation free of charge.

Linda Painan, chairwoman of The Expatriate Center, a nonprofit organization in Shanghai, said when the city started the vaccination program for expatriate adults in March, a number of families asked when they could get their children vaccinated.

"Expat families here in China believe in the safety and effectiveness of the local Chinese vaccines…we are also looking forward to traveling when the borders open up, so getting our children vaccinated is a top priority," she said, adding that she will send her teenage children to be vaccinated.

Soraya Kadra, a French expatriate, said even though her children are not eligible to be vaccinated because they are too young, "it's very good news".