Coronavirus: Hong Kong will launch mass vaccination drive next week, with priority given to 2.4 million frontline workers and those in high-risk groups
- Online bookings will start from next Tuesday after a million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine are delivered to the city on Friday
- But Hong Kong could be facing an uphill battle to achieve herd immunity as latest survey indicates only four in 10 people are willing to be vaccinated
Health authorities announced on Thursday that online bookings would start from next Tuesday, but the city was already facing an uphill battle to achieve herd immunity for a population of 7.5 million, with the latest survey indicating only four in 10 people were willing to be vaccinated.
The first jabs would be administered from next Friday and the vaccination drive would last for up to six months, to be implemented in phases, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said at a press conference on Thursday.
Details of the roll-out were revealed as the number of confirmed new infections dropped to eight from 16 the previous day.
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Hong Kong to kick off mass Covid-19 vaccination next week
Hongkongers in five groups will be given vaccination priority: health workers and others fighting the pandemic; those aged 60 years or above; residents and staff of elderly and disability care homes; those providing essential public services such as disciplined forces, postal staff and hygiene workers; and cross-border transport workers including truck drivers, air and sea crew, and fishermen.
Those aged 70 or above will have the option to bring up to two people with them for coronavirus shots, and most of this demographic are expected to be vaccinated within the next two months.
