Coronavirus: Hongkongers getting booster shots outnumber those getting first, second doses, but pace still slow, experts warn

The sluggish pace of the city’s overall vaccination drive leaves it vulnerable to a fifth wave of infections, experts have said

Some have called for a strict vaccine passport scheme to prod reluctant residents to get their jabs

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People queue up for Sinovac shots at a community vaccination centre in Jordan earlier this month. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 8:00am, 30 Dec 2021

People receiving their third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine have outnumbered those getting their first and second since the booster shots became available last month, but experts have warned that the overall pace is still slow and the city remains vulnerable to another outbreak.

Since Hong Kong first began giving out third doses of the Sinovac and BioNTech vaccines on November 11, more than 365,000 people have received the booster shots, accounting for about 5.4 per cent of the city’s eligible population.

By comparison, the number of people taking their first and second dose of the vaccines stood at more than 208,000 and 189,000, respectively.

But despite the comparatively higher number of people receiving booster shots, local experts said the overall progress of the city’s vaccination drive was unsatisfactory, particularly among the elderly, who are at greater risk of severe illness.

“My main concern is about the low inoculation rate among the elderly, especially those aged 80 or above. If they get infected, the outbreak will be explosive. This is really worrisome,” said respiratory medicine expert Dr Leung Chi-chiu, noting the demand for booster shots might be driven by concerns over the relatively low efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine compared to BioNTech.