Coronavirus: Hong Kong opens vaccination bookings for children as young as 12, as educators and doctors step up with incentives
- Experts take to airwaves to encourage young people to sign up for BioNTech jabs, with one recommending lowering the age threshold for Sinovac
- Educators welcome expansion of programme, with some pledging incentives such as coupons for books and extra days off
Educators also welcomed the expansion of the programme, with some pledging incentives such as coupons for books, free masks and extra days off to entice secondary school pupils.
Paediatricians were planning to offer checks on children who had a history of allergies to determine whether they were recommended to receive the doses, although the plan must be approved by the Hospital Authority.
Individual bookings for the German-made BioNTech jabs on the government’s website opened at 9am for those aged 12 to 15, making vaccinations available to an additional 240,000 Hongkongers. Authorities announced a day ago that group vaccinations at community inoculation centres would be available from June 21 onwards, with outreach services to schools starting a week later at the earliest.
The expansion of the inoculation push came as the city confirmed no new coronavirus infections on Friday. The total case tally stands at 11,874, with 210 related deaths.
The government also said Colombia and South Korea would be added to the list of high-risk places on June 18. The arrangement means that arrivals from the two countries must present a negative Covid-19 test before arrival.
Friday marked the 106th day of the vaccination drive, but take-up has remained sluggish, with only about 15 per cent of residents fully vaccinated. Health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee again urged parents to bring their children for vaccination.