Hong Kong delegates receive their second Sinopharm coronavirus jabs in Shenzhen

A number of local delegates to the country’s top advisory body travelled across the border on Thursday morning to get their second doses of a coronavirus vaccine developed by mainland firm Sinopharm, RTHK reports.

One of those who was driven to Shenzhen, Richard Choi, who is a standing committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told reporters he "felt comfortable" after receiving the first shot several weeks ago and isn't worried about getting a second jab.

Choi also called on the government to purchase doses of the Sinopharm vaccine for Hong Kong, to give people in the SAR more choice.

Another CPPCC standing committee member, Charles Ho, also said Hong Kong shouldn't "lose out" in the global fight for vaccine supplies.

He stressed Hongkongers shouldn’t worry about the risks associated with the jabs because many people on the mainland have already taken them.

“People should be more worried if they didn't take the shots,” Ho said.

Meanwhile, another local delegate, Lam Tai-fai, urged people to take whichever Covid-19 jabs are secured by the SAR government.

He said the best way to curb the spread of the virus is to be vaccinated against it.

Former secretary for food and health Ko Wing-man, who's also a CPPCC delegate, said he's supportive of the government's decision to approve the jabs from the mainland firm Sinovac. He said a panel of experts had already concluded that the Sinovac vaccine's benefits outweigh its risks.

Several local deputies to the National People's Congress also travelled to Shenzhen on Thursday to get their coronavirus jabs.