'Medics To Vaccinate Elderly At Care Homes'

Executive councillor Lam Ching-choi said the government will deploy medics to give Covid-19 vaccinations at elderly care homes when the inoculation programme begins after the Lunar New Year.

Vaccines made by mainland firm Sinovac and Germany's BioNTech are expected to arrive next month,and a twelve-strong vaccine advisory panel appointed by the government will meet on Monday to begin reviewing whether the BioNTech vaccine is safe for use in Hong Kong.

Officials had earlier said that frontline medical workers and the elderly will have priority in getting vaccinated.

Speaking on a TV programme, Lam, who is also a member of the government's vaccination programme task force, said it would be difficult and risky for elderly people to leave their care homes to get inoculated.

By sending medics directly to the elderly facilities, he said experts would be able to assess each resident before vaccinating them, and monitor them afterwards.

Lam also noted that the scheme will first be implemented at a handful of care homes so that authorities can evaluate the process.

He stressed government experts will carefully review the safety of the vaccines, following reports from Norway of frail, elderly people dying after receiving the jabs.