Deploy Outreach Teams To Vaccinate Elderly: Expert

An expert in infectious diseases on Wednesday urged the government to send outreach teams to housing estates to vaccinate elderly people against Covid-19.

Dr Ho Pak-leung of the University of Hong Kong welcomed the government’s plan to offer walk-in vaccinations to people aged 70 and above, but said more needs to be done to increase the vaccine take-up among senior citizens.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, he said only 150,000 out of 950,000 people over 70 have taken a jab, and it would take two years to vaccinate all the elderly if the pace is not quickened.

“The government has been sending vaccination teams to large companies to give jabs to their employees. These outreach teams can set up mobile vaccination stations at housing estates where a lot of elderly people live, or visit some elderly centres. More elderly people will receive the jabs if they find it more convenient,” Ho said.

Meanwhile, Civil Service Secretary Patrick Nip – who is in charge of the vaccination programme – said the government will consider extending the walk-in scheme to people aged 60 and above if the move would be welcomed by the public and vaccination centres would find the extra work manageable.

Nip added that the booking quota for the general public at vaccination centres will also be increased.