I am writing in reference to your March 28 editorial, “ Businesses can help drive vaccine uptake ”. In your article, the business sector is portrayed as a vital stakeholder who could drive uptake of vaccination by offering incentives and convenience to customers and employees. Whether or not businesses are actively engaged in vaccination programmes, in my estimation, is a wholly secondary factor when it comes to the public’s willingness and attitude towards vaccination. First, the shot’s efficacy is the most essential factor in determining public attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccination. Its effectiveness, as well as protective duration, is directly related to the probability of vaccination. Second, the safety of a vaccine, together with the severity of adverse effects, is the main concern of the general public right now. The public shows hesitancy about taking part in Covid-19 vaccine trials because they are concerned about side effects. Apart from fever or arm pain, there have been some reported cases of severe adverse reactions such as facial paralysis , and people are worried. After a year of pandemic anxiety, individuals across the world have learned to carry out better risk assessments of their lives, placing human health over economic and financial variables. People are more concerned about their health than financial incentives. Wing Chi Lau, Tin Shui Wai Looking for leaders to jump-start city What we, especially the Hong Kong government, must understand is that this once vibrant city has stalled. It’s sitting in limbo. Instead of the one-time entrepreneurial thinking, there’s now a blanket of fear with many walking on eggshells and the main topic of conversation being the pros and cons of vaccinations. None of this does anything to inspire people to look at ways of rebuilding Hong Kong and putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. What all this shows is appalling “leadership” and a severe brain drain having already hit this city where many have grown tired of surviving instead of enjoying life. Hans Ebert, Wan Chai