The suggestion by Hong Kong health advisers that a vaccine for Covid-19 could become available next year has brought a ray of hope to the long-beleaguered city. For the sake of Hong Kong and the health of everyone here, the vaccination should not be politicised for any reason. While some may doubt the safety of some vaccines , especially from mainland China, all citizens of Hong Kong have an obligation to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Since the outbreak of the virus, the hustle and bustle of this cosmopolitan city has vanished. The once-packed streets are now deserted, the shops vacant. The unemployment rate has reached a 15-year high. The government’s reserves cannot afford more handouts to keep businesses open. Witnessing how the once glitzy and glamorous city is now mired in recession, people should unite instead of disagreeing for political reasons. Anyone who is selfish enough to malign the quality of the available vaccine without proof should be held responsible for creating unnecessary public fear and preventing society from recovering with malicious purpose. More countries host final phase trials of Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines Making coronavirus vaccination mandatory for all people in Hong Kong is the key to reviving the economy and all social activities. To make this happen, people have to be proactive, instead of going on criticising the government for not doing something for them. Getting a vaccination is exactly the thing that people should do for themselves and the city. While vaccinating all citizens will take time, the previous community Covid-19 testing scheme has prepared the government with the experience to facilitate the whole vaccination process. Coupled with the cooperation of the people, we may soon be able to go out without a mask again. The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner our lives can go back to the pre-pandemic normal. That is worth sparing a few minutes for. Ali Ng, Mong Kok
