Today, the National Health Commission held a press conference to introduce the deployment of practical services for the people and answer questions from reporters. Jiao Yahui, Director of the Grassroots Department of the National Health Commission, introduced that in recent years, during the flu season, many people have reported that they do not have time or convenience to receive vaccines on workdays. In 2023, the National Health Commission formulated a series of measures to provide convenient and beneficial services for grassroots health, including weekend vaccination services, which were well received by the public. According to preliminary data, by 2025, 92.4% of township health centers and community health service centers in China will be able to provide weekend vaccination, and the number of vaccine doses administered on weekends will account for 24.7% of the total number of vaccine doses administered nationwide, which means that about 1/4 of all vaccine doses administered in the country will be completed on weekends. So in 2026, in order to further consolidate and improve the convenience and accessibility of vaccination services, it is proposed that all township health centers and community health service centers that can provide vaccination services nationwide should open weekend vaccination services, and the vaccination time, especially the weekend opening time and telephone number, should be prominently announced to the public, so that they can inquire and consult at any time. ”Jiao Yahui said that the National Health Commission requires local health administrative departments to disclose the opening hours, contact numbers, and consultation service information of all township health centers and community health service centers within their jurisdiction that can provide weekend vaccination services to the public through various means, in order to enhance the accessibility of services. Jiao Yahui said that by fully leveraging the convenience and accessibility of services provided by grassroots medical and health institutions, and promoting the convenience of grassroots medical and health services for more people, the National Health Commission has taken various measures to provide convenient and beneficial services to the people. For example, the number source of secondary and above hospitals, especially tertiary hospitals, is sinking to the grassroots level. Nowadays, many community health service centers and township health centers in cities can book expert numbers from county hospitals and secondary and above hospitals. In addition, promoting the principle of "diagnosis and treatment first, settlement later" at the grassroots level. Including open weekend clinics, the most popular service is now providing long-term prescriptions for chronic diseases for up to three months at the grassroots level, greatly facilitating patients' access to basic medical and health services nearby. Jiao Yahui reminds that the influenza vaccine has been proven through practice to have a very significant effect on preventing infection and severe illness. He calls on children, patients with underlying diseases, and the elderly to receive the influenza vaccine every year during the influenza season to ensure their personal health. (New Society)