Also on Thursday, authorities confirmed two Covid-19 infections, both imported and involving arrivals from the United States and Tanzania. The overall case tally stood at 11,982, with 212 related deaths.

Walk-in Covid-19 vaccination scheme for Hong Kong elderly to start Thursday

The patients both tested positive for the more transmissible L452R strain of the coronavirus.

The US arrival had received two shots of the BioNTech vaccine in March and April. Experts have stressed that inoculation alone cannot eliminate the risk of infection, but can greatly reduce its effects.

Officials also ordered residents and staff at the Rosedale Hotel in Causeway Bay to undergo mandatory testing after a previous guest tested positive for the coronavirus on arrival in London on July 17. The asymptomatic patient left the city on July 15 and had stayed in the hotel during his incubation period.

By 7.30am on Thursday, about 40 older people were queuing at the inoculation centre in Prince Edward’s Boundary Street Sports Centre, while 30 waited outside the Central Library in Causeway Bay. Both groups were hoping to get one of the 200 slots available for the day at each venue.

Tang Siu-shing, 83, was in line at the library, which offers the mainland Chinese-made Sinovac jab. He said his legs were “trembling” because he had been standing for too long since arriving at 7.30am.

“There should be more people helping us to register so I can leave earlier,” he said. “Or they can let us wait in the library with air conditioning.”

Tang said he decided against getting inoculated earlier because he wanted others to “test” the vaccine first.

The octogenarian added he could have asked his children to help him book an appointment, but turning up at his leisure was more convenient. “I can just come after my morning walk,” he added.

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Although Hong Kong’s vaccination drive has picked up in recent weeks after a sluggish few months, inoculations among seniors have lagged behind other demographic groups.

In an effort to boost the vaccination rate among the older generation, authorities launched a scheme from Thursday providing up to 4,600 walk-in slots each day at 24 of the city’s 29 inoculation centres.

Staff at the two centres the Post visited on launch day said between 10 and 30 people could get vaccinated every hour.

The government has also said it will consider extending the walk-in scheme to those aged 60 and above if the response is positive.

At the Prince Edward centre, which offers German-made BioNTech shots, a 77-year-old resident of the district, surnamed Chan, was hoping to get a jab so she could visit her children in Australia and mainland China.

“I came by myself today because I didn’t need to make a booking online, as I don’t even know how to go on the internet,” said Chan, who had visited a private clinic the day before to check she was medically fit for the jab.

“I have diabetes and skin allergies, but I guess I can’t overthink this now. If I don’t get vaccinated, I can’t go anywhere.”

Health and technology issues were among the concerns of elderly residents waiting in line for the jab.

“I wanted to see other people take the jab first before taking it myself,” said a woman surnamed Wong, 77, who came with her husband. “Personally I’m in good shape today, and I live nearby so I came at 7am this morning.”

Wong’s husband has not been vaccinated and will monitor his wife’s reaction before taking a jab himself.

A 75-year-old, also surnamed Chan, likewise said he was using the walk-in service because he did not know how to book online.

Chan said he was aware of the BioNTech jab’s potential for stronger side effects but still selected it based on the higher efficacy rate. “It has to be like that if it’s more effective; it’s the better choice.”

Another couple, with the surname Lam, decided to go to the Central Library, but it was not until after their arrival that they realised the vaccination centre there only offered the Sinovac jab.

“The government should also think about the elderly. Young people know how to book online but we don’t,” they said, adding they went ahead with the jab after calling a friend for advice.

As of Thursday, 42.2 per cent of the city’s overall population had received a first vaccine dose, while 31.5 per cent were fully inoculated.

Additional reporting by Victor Ting