Editorial | Hong Kong vaccine pass for all ages an effective tool
- Having failed to suppress the resurgence of Covid-19 at an earlier stage, Hong Kong must redouble efforts to enhance public support in the latest step to offer broader protection for the vulnerable
Hong Kong has learned a hard lesson through five waves of Covid-19 community outbreaks, as reflected in some 9,800 deaths and a plethora of stringent health restrictions put in place since the onslaught of the pandemic.
While some measures have strained the economy and inconvenienced different aspects of living, the need to go further can never be ruled out, especially when infections are still hovering at a high level.
The latest decision by the government to further extend the vaccine pass to younger children has understandably upset many parents. But as with the tightening in the previous phases, the extended requirements for inoculation to enter restaurants and other premises remains an effective way to boost the coverage and protection for the vulnerable.
Admittedly, the time for the target groups to come forward for the jabs is limited. By September 30, those aged five to 11 have to have at least one shot to dine out in restaurants and enter most public and business venues, followed by two jabs by November 30.
Parents may also find the arrangements confusing. For those aged 12 and above, the interval between the second and third jab has been shortened from six months to five. The rules for partially vaccinated children with a previous infection are even more complicated.
