More provinces and municipalities on the Chinese mainland recently have begun to offer compatriots from Taiwan island the same COVID-19 vaccine access as their mainland counterparts.

Since Monday, Taiwan compatriots in Guangdong province and Shanghai have been able to make an appointment for vaccination online, the same as local residents, authorities from the two regions said on Monday.

Both Guangdong and Shanghai, home to myriad Taiwan-funded companies and joint ventures, have registered a large number of investors, business representatives and their family members, scholars, tourists, teachers and students from Taiwan.

In addition to Guangdong and Shanghai, Tianjin and Fujian province, for example, offered vaccination services to Taiwan compatriots earlier this year.

In Tianjin, Taiwan compatriots have been allowed to make appointments for vaccination since March.

People who work in the cold chain and logistics industries became the first group allowed to make appointments for vaccination in the northern port city in March, while all the more than 5,000 Taiwan compatriots in Tianjin have been able to register in their residential communities and with neighborhood committees for the vaccination since the beginning of April, local authorities said.

"We feel very grateful for the support by the local Taiwan affairs offices," said Lui Sio-cian, a Taiwan compatriot living in Tianjin's Heping district.

"After vaccination, our work and lives will become safer," Lui was quoted as saying by Taiwan.cn.

In addition to online platforms to make appointments for the vaccinations, Taiwan compatriots can also register for vaccination via the mobile app Tailutong.

In Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, the first group of 32 Taiwan compatriots to make appointments via Tailutong were inoculated on Monday morning.

A Taiwan resident said he had been paying close attention to the messages on vaccination for Taiwan residents in Fuzhou in recent months. He immediately registered for the vaccination when he learned that he could apply.

Last week, a Chinese mainland spokesman said Taiwan compatriots would be treated the same as mainland residents when seeking vaccination on the mainland.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the announcement at a news conference in response to a query about the inoculation policy for Taiwan residents on the mainland.

Taiwan compatriots with residence permits or medical insurance certificates can register for vaccines in their places of residence on the basis of willingness and informed consent, the same policy and procedure governing mainland residents, said Ma.

Those without the two documents can apply to Taiwan affairs authorities at county level or above for such services, he said.

Teachers and students from Taiwan can apply for the vaccination in their universities and schools and get the same access as their mainland counterparts on the campuses, said Ma.

The vaccination is free for mainland residents and Taiwan compatriots, Ma added.

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