Kids unaffected by vaccine pass extension, says civil service chief

Hong Kong’s civil service chief believed there will not be a large number of kids being barred from designated premises as those as young as five will need its vaccine pass to enter various venues across the city starting Friday.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on Thursday that among some 400,000 children aged between 5 to 11, around 50,000 of them have not received a single dose of the Covid vaccines.

This means that they will be banned from entering premises such as restaurants, libraries and sports venues starting tomorrow.

However, Yeung said she believes the change in the vaccine pass requirement will not result in a large number of unvaccinated kids being barred from certain venues.

The civil service chief also said authorities will continue to implement campaigns to promote Covid vaccination for younger children, getting parents to consent their kids for the jabs.

Meanwhile, commenting on the case where two toddlers suffered facial weakness after receiving the Sinovac jabs, Yeung said they were “isolated incidents”.

She noted that toddlers getting other vaccines could also result in facial paralysis, with a high chance of making a full recovery.

She also said both the two-year-olds, a boy and a girl, are in stable condition.