Cross-border truck drivers could be among the first to get vaccinated

Cross-border truck drivers could be among the first to get Covid-19 vaccination, Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said.

Speaking on a TV program, Nip said people like medical staff, staff of care homes and the elderly would be considered as a priority to get vaccinated. The government would also consider to let those who are important to operation of society and economy such as cross-border truck drivers, to get vaccinated first.

He said the large-scale vaccination program would be more challenging than the community testing program as different brands of vaccines will arrive Hong Kong at different time. Some vaccines are also subjected to storage conditions and it can only be vaccinated in specific places. The government also need to let part of the citizens to get vaccinated first.

Nip also said there are enough hotel rooms for overseas arrivals to quarantine as the average occupancy rate of the 36 designated quarantine hotels is about 40 percent now, while half of the hotels have over 50 percent of booking rates by end of January.