Alibaba ties up with GlaxoSmithKline for online HPV vaccine appointment service
Taobao users can book a vaccination appointment in more than 100 cities
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is pushing for one more inclusion in this year’s Singles’ Day shopping trolley – HPV vaccine.
GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix is the first HPV vaccine licensed by the China Food and Drug Administration, and is targeted at girls and women of ages between nine and 25 years.
A tie-up between pharmaceutical giant GSK and Alibaba Health will let users access online consultation services and book appointments for the anti-cervical cancer drug in more than 100 cities in China.
“By launching this online service ahead of the Singles’ Day shopping festival, we hope to provide a more convenient way for young women in China to become involved in their health care,” said Zhong Congdi, a manager for disease prevention at Alibaba Health.
The vaccine service will spare a growing number of health-conscious women trips to Hong Kong. Increasing awareness has prompted thousands of mainland Chinese to come to the city for shots, which usually require a three-jab schedule spanning a year and a half, over the past few years.
