More than 18 months have passed since the first outbreak of Covid-19. Even though Hong Kong’s government purchased ample doses of vaccines, the current outcome of the vaccine roll-out is disappointing , with only about 1.4 million people inoculated. A direct result of that is the need for the entire population to continue to source and acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies like surgical masks, sanitisers and disinfectants. Recently, the New People’s Party conducted a survey study with a sample size of 1,472 households across Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. The study aimed at investigating how people have been affected by the pandemic financially. More than 75 per cent of interviewees indicated that epidemic prevention has heightened their financial constraints. According to our estimation, the expenditure on epidemic necessities ranged from HK$1,245 to HK$1,821 per month, meaning that the expected value of 18 months’ worth of expenses is HK$32,778 – almost equivalent to the median household income in Hong Kong of HK$34,500, or seven times the average rent for subdivided flats (HK$4,800). Half of this city’s households have used more than one month’s income to purchase PPE and anti-epidemic supplies in the past 18 months. Due to the low take-up rate of Covid-19 vaccines , we can anticipate that the pandemic will drag on, possibly for another year at the very least. By that time, each household would have spent an additional HK$21,852 towards the purchase of PPE and other supplies. In order to encourage vaccine uptake, we have the following suggestions: First, supermarkets should launch more rebate programmes for Hong Kong residents, as the two big supermarket chains not only earned enormous profits during the pandemic, but also received HK$160 million -180 million in government subsidies in the second tranche alone last year. Are Hong Kong’s supermarkets having a big fat pandemic? Secondly, large corporations should demonstrate greater corporate social responsibility by sponsoring medical consultations or body check packages for those who are willing to be vaccinated. Thirdly, the Hong Kong government can encourage people to take vaccines by sending monthly epidemic packages to those who have received two doses. Unless more than 70 per cent of the population is vaccinated, the cost of living will remain higher for all of us, posing a particularly onerous burden for the more vulnerable members of society. Dr Marcus Liu, central committee member, New People’s Party