I am writing to express my views on the resumption of the special visiting arrangement for eight infirmary hospitals announced by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority last month. I agree that resuming the arrangement helps long-stay patients, especially elderly ones, maintain a healthy mood. But what about the other long-stay patients who have been in public hospitals since the pandemic first hit last year? While the government has relaxed some social-distancing restrictions , the Hospital Authority has only relaxed the visiting arrangement for public hospitals very slightly. For most long-stay elderly patients, family visits are their biggest support. Although these patients are sometimes allowed video calls with their families, and can see and talk to their relatives virtually, this is not enough to comfort them. For elderly patients who are not tech-savvy, virtual visits do not work. They need to touch and see their relatives in person. The Hospital Authority should resume regular visiting arrangements for hospitals without infectious disease wards as soon as possible to help our long-stay elderly patients maintain a healthy mood and allow them the comfort of their relatives. Issac Yiu, Tai Po Rethink regime of two BioNTech vaccine doses in 21 days It is clear that the vaccination programme in Hong Kong is not going well. There is great reluctance among the population to getting the two required jabs, known to have some mild – and at times not so mild – side effects for at least a couple of days. I noticed that Singapore is focusing on inoculating its entire adult population with at least one dose and delaying the second dose. In addition, a study by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States has found that one shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provides 80 per cent protection, bolstering arguments that a second shot may not be necessary or could be done even two to three months later. In light of these developments, I urge the Hong Kong government and its health advisers to urgently reconsider their requirement for two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine within 21 days; I believe this would encourage more people to take up the generous offer of a free jab. George Forrai, Mid-Levels Hong Kong cannot afford to be complacent about vaccination All Hongkongers should be encouraged to receive the Covid-19 jab. How sad that Hong Kong has an ample supply of the vaccine but the uptake has been so slow. What a travesty if the ample supply Hong Kong has is allowed to expire while the rest of the world is desperate to secure it, including Taiwan and India . Our goal should be to attain herd immunity and not be complacent as we enjoy fewer Covid-19 cases now. The only reason we have such few cases now is because Hong Kong is still in virtual lockdown with only four people allowed to gather together, 14 to 21-day quarantine still in force and everyone obediently wearing masks. However, that cannot continue if we want our economy to recover. Hong Kong has to open up to revive our stagnant economy. Public reservations about receiving the vaccines should be addressed with scientific fact. It is far better to receive the vaccine than be infected with Covid-19, and the only way forward is to achieve herd immunity, including vaccination of seniors and children going to school. Herd immunity will also protect the vulnerable people who really cannot receive the vaccination. Harriet Tung, The Peak