'Get Vaccinated Early To Help HK Get Over Covid'

Top government officials on Sunday urged eligible HongKongers to sign up for the government’s universal Covid-19 vaccination programme over the coming week, saying a strong response is needed if Hong Kong is to get over the pandemic.

The jabs will first be given for free to five priority groups, including over-60s, healthcare staff, care home workers and residents, as well as people deemed to provide essential public services to Hong Kong, and cross-border transport workers and control point staff.

They can make online bookings to get inoculated with the mainland-made Sinovac vaccine – which has an efficacy rate of around 62 percent – starting on Tuesday.

The jabs will be given at 18 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority and five Community Vaccination Centres across the territory starting on Friday.

The first German-produced BioNTech vaccines are due to arrive by the end of the month, and boasts an efficacy rate of up to 95 percent. They will be available at the remaining 24 Community Vaccination Centres after they arrive.

Writing in his blog, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung urged people to get vaccinated to protect both themselves and others.

He said he believes people don’t want to see a fifth wave of Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong, and the chance of another outbreak decreases as the number of people inoculated goes up.

This, he said, would finally allow Hong Kong to get over the pandemic.

Health secretary Sophia Chan, echoed his comments, stressing that getting vaccinated is ‘definitely’ better than not doing so, adding that the earlier people get inoculated, the better.

She said a good response to the vaccination programme would help Hong Kong achieve herd immunity more quickly, and create more favourable conditions for life to return to normal.