Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s elderly left it late to get Covid-19 shots, now worried families fear time is running out as cases soar, deaths mount
- Worsening fifth wave, which first hit the city in late December, has affected homes for the elderly badly, with confirmed cases in 580 facilities
- Vaccination rate among the elderly remains relatively low compared with other age groups
But the care home did not arrange the Covid-19 shots in time and now Lau’s father, who is in his 90s, has caught the disease and is battling for his life after being admitted to hospital two weeks ago.
“Back then we kept asking them to let my father take the vaccine. But at the start of the vaccination scheme, there were many worries about the elderly dying when they got jabbed, so many homes were hesitant for them to take the vaccine,” Lau, 54, said.
“Of course I regret this, I wanted my father to get vaccinated earlier so he wouldn’t die. But now it is too late.”
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‘It's been a week now’: Covid-19 patient trapped at home shares frustration
The worsening fifth wave, which first hit the city in late December, has affected homes for the elderly badly, with confirmed cases in 580 facilities and 2,900 residents and 865 staff infected, according to health authorities.