Caregivers Of The Elderly 'can Jump Vaccine Queue'

RTHK has learnt that people who do not have priority for Covid-19 vaccines may be able to get a jab early if they are accompanying an elderly person to get vaccinated, as the first batch prepares to arrive in Hong Kong this week.

Sources said the government will soon announce details of its vaccination programme, which is expected to start next month.

Under the plan, more than 20 centres will be set up across the city and open in phases.

Up to 2,500 doses can be administered at each centre every day.

The centres will be run by the Hospital Authority and private medical institutions, and staff will be trained in how to deal with people with severe side effects.

Among the priority groups are medics and elderly people, and sources said those aged 60 or above will be allowed to bring two caregivers with them. They, too, will be able to get vaccinated.

Everyone will also have to make an appointment in advance.

Only one type of vaccine will be available at each centre.

The vaccine developed by BioNTech has been approved for use here in Hong Kong, while the Sinovac jabs have been recommended for emergency use.

Sinovac announced on Wednesday that the first batch of 1 million doses will arrive in the SAR on Friday.

Hong Kong has procured 7.5 million doses from Sinovac, BioNTech-Fosun Pharma and AstraZeneca each.

It's understood that the government on Tuesday briefed operators of the vaccination centres and staff handling administrative work.

Dr David Lam from Medical Conscience, whose group will be involved in running a centre in Wan Chai, said it would need 300 to 400 medics to operate the facility.

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