Hong Kong union leader ‘very happy’ after getting Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine

Tam Kin-chiu says painless 10-second procedure gave him sense of fulfilling ‘social responsibility to get vaccinated’

Vice-chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions had no concerns about possible side effects

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Tam Kin-chiu shows his Covid-19 vaccination record after getting the Sinovac jab at a clinic in Tuen Mun. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 8:26pm, 10 Mar 2021Updated: 8:26pm, 10 Mar 2021

Watching the doctor inject the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine into his left arm, union leader Tam Kin-chiu said he felt “very happy” on Wednesday.

The light rail driver, who is vice-chairman of the pro-establishment Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions, said the painless 10-second procedure also gave him a sense of having fulfilled his “social responsibility of getting vaccinated”.

Tam, 55, was one of more than 110,000 people in the city who have been given the mainland-made jab so far.

“I am very happy now as I feel I have stronger protection against Covid-19. I also feel like I’ve fulfilled my social responsibility of getting vaccinated,” he said.

“I don’t feel any pain or discomfort at all, and I hope my participation in the inoculation programme could contribute to the formation of herd immunity.”

Tam was among the 1.3 million people in seven priority groups added to the government’s vaccination drive on Tuesday, taking the total number of residents eligible for the shots to about 3.7 million.