Elderly To Get Walk-in Covid Vaccination Passes

People aged 70 or above will be able receive coronavirus vaccines without first making a booking starting from Thursday, under a scheme to boost their low inoculation rate.

The government said that 4,500 tickets will be made available each day to the elderly, who can use them to get vaccinated at a scheduled time on that same day.

The tickets will be distributed from 7.45am each day on a first-come, first-served basis from 24 community vaccination centres.

About 200 such passes will be given out at most of the vaccination centres except the smaller ones in Tung Chung and the airport, which will only have a daily quota of 100.

Officials say there’s no need for the elderly to get up early or queue though, as the tickets will be available every day.

The government also said people can send family members or carers to pick up a ticket on their behalf, and return at a designated time to receive their inoculation.

They will also be informed when to return to receive their second dose.

The government said authorities would consider extending the arrangement to cover people aged 60 or above later.

“The elderly are the group with the highest risks of complications and death from Covid-19. Covid-19 vaccines are highly recommended for the elderly for protection against infection,” the government said.

It added that experts have recommended that all elderly people who have ever had an influenza vaccine can safely receive the coronavirus vaccines. It said those with chronic diseases should also get vaccinated as soon as possible when their condition is stable.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection reported one imported Covid-19 case on Tuesday.

The patient is a 37-year-old man who was in Spain and Switzerland between July 3 and 24. He developed symptoms a day before he returned to the SAR on Sunday.

He was infected with the L452R mutant strain. The man received both doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong, in April and May.

There are fewer than five preliminary positive cases.

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