Hong Kong to vaccinate mainland Chinese while refugees wait
An aerial view shows buildings from the Mid-Levels district of Hong Kong, Tuesday. AFP-Yonhap
The Hong Kong government will make vaccines available for up to 40,000 mainland Chinese citizens residing in the territory, it announced on Tuesday - while refugees will have to wait.
The government plans to start vaccinating its 13,000 officially recognized refugees from July, following a survey to "assess their intention for receiving vaccination," it said in a statement, without giving details.
Vaccines for?Chinese holders of an Exit-Entry Permit (EEP), who can travel between?Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, will be rolled out?on Friday.
"These EEP holders will stay in the community for a period of time. From a public health perspective, providing vaccination to them will not only protect them from infection, but also prevent the spread of the virus in the community and thus enhance Hong Kong's overall anti-epidemic capability," a government spokesman said.
According to the government, many?EEP holders?have encountered extra difficulties owing to the pandemic, such as having to take care of children or the elderly.
"They generally live together with Hong Kong residents who are eligible for vaccination," the statement said.
Safety concerns?and loss of confidence in the government have been blamed for a slow vaccination uptake, with just over a?million recipients having had their first dose and 9 per cent of the population fully inoculated.
Experts have warned the public not to leave getting the jab too late?because of the limited shelf-life of vaccines, as well as the planned end of vaccination programs in September. (dpa)