Letters | Help Hong Kong’s youngest live normally by vaccinating the elderly

Readers discuss the effects of pandemic policies on young children, how to inspire a love of language learning in students and the behaviour of Immigration Department staff

Reading Time:3 minutes

Children take part in an activity as classes resume at a kindergarten in Tai Po on May 3. Some have expressed concern about the effects the mask mandate is having on children’s health and educational development. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:30pm, 11 Sep 2022

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.

Having been trapped in Hong Kong’s Covid-19 bubble for more than two years now, I am amazed by the lack of curiosity and concern among the general public over the impact of Hong Kong’s Covid-19 policies on the city’s toddlers and babies.

Of all the age groups being affected by Hong Kong’s pandemic policies, they are suffering the most. They have missed out on making friends, seeing family, going to school in person and exploring the world around them.

There is also the question of to what extent wearing masks has affected their speech development, communication skills and general immunity levels. Let’s remember that Covid-19 is just one of many ailments they might face growing up, and we need to prepare them for a long, healthy and happy future.

We should also consider the impact on children’s general happiness and well-being, as well as the experiences they’re missing out on. Some parents seem to have exaggerated the threat of Covid-19 to encourage children to stay protected. Have we inadvertently heightened anxiety levels among our children? Protecting them from the virus is one thing, but are we causing longer-term damage?

The most bizarre point to me is why we are not focusing our efforts on the elderly – who are actually our most vulnerable group – rather than children, who are among the least vulnerable. Government figures show this age group is still well behind in terms of vaccination rates compared to both the rest of Hong Kong’s adult population and many other countries.