Dennis Fong (right), vice-president of Hong Kong Society for Travel Medicine, demonstrates the influenza vaccination procedure as the University of Hong Kong medical school and Society of Hospital Pharmacists jointly launch a vaccination training scheme on October 11, 2020, in preparation for the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines. Photo: Jonathan Wong
As a strong believer in medical science, it was disappointing to read in yesterday’s Post concerns that uptake is expected to be below the rate needed to achieve herd immunity (“Far fewer people willing to take vaccine than needed”). There are several things the Hong Kong government could do to address this, including greater clarity as to when and how the vaccines will be made available and a clear statement that a choice of different vaccines of different provenance will be offered.
Most importantly, a government statement that those who can show they have received the vaccine will be spared the current mandatory quarantine upon returning to Hong Kong from abroad would greatly increase uptake.
Only this kind of inducement can break the current “prisoner’s dilemma” perception that the best course of action is to wait for your neighbours to take the vaccine so you don’t have to.
Keith Noyes, Clear Water Bay
Fears do not surprise, given lack of transparency
Your report, “Far fewer people willing to take vaccine than needed” (January 13) made me feel discouraged but also hopeful. There is a group of people called “anti-vaxxers” who do not look closely enough into the mechanisms of vaccines and oppose them out of belief in some conspiracy theories. I would like to think that people in Hong Kong are not these kind of people but are just overwhelmed.
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SCMP Explains: What's the difference between the major Covid-19 vaccines?
SCMP Explains: What's the difference between the major Covid-19 vaccines?
We have not experienced any pandemic as severe as this one in recent memory, so this is the first time we have had such high demand for vaccines in a short period of time. It is normal for citizens to be worried, especially when everything announced is so unclear.
There now are many brands of vaccines available, yet we still are unclear as to which one we are supposed to be taking. There are rumours that a particular vaccine might have unknown side effects, yet we still are unsure whether there is any truth in these rumours.
These questions are in all of our minds. Even so, no one is confident enough to stand out and answer them, not even the government, because what we are going through is new to us. That said, the people still need answers so we can deal with this once and for all.
The government needs our trust back, so I hope the government can be more transparent with their procedures on the vaccines. Efficiency is important, but what we are also hoping for is clarity.
