Elderly queue for jabs to enter bubble

Queues formed at community centers yesterday where anti-Covid shots were being offered after authorities said a "vaccine bubble" system will be expanded from January 20.

That is when only people who have been inoculated with at least one shot will be allowed into restaurants and various other premises.

At a mobile vaccination center outside Cheung Hong Estate in Tsing Yi, many elderly queued for the German-made BioNTech/Fosun jab.

One of them, Yau, said: "I can't go for yum cha if I don't take the shot. There's nothing you can do if the government forces you to get jabbed and of course it's better if I can have yum cha."

Now, the elderly must be vaccinated unless they have proof that they are unfit medically for jabs if they want to continue having yum cha in the mornings.

At a vaccination truck in Tsing Yi, a housewife opted to have a shot before the bubble system is expanded from just karaoke clubs and party rooms.

She said her life would be greatly affected if the expansion covers wet markets.

After Tsing Yi, the vaccination vehicle heads to Tuen Mun tomorrow and Wednesday and will be parked at Luk Tin House, Yan Tin Estate.

At Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre in Kwai Fong yesterday, dozens of people lined up outside the vaccination center offering the BioNTech jab.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said on Friday the bubble will be extended to restaurants and to all 18 regulated types of premises, including cinemas and gyms.

On Saturday 7,085 people received a first jab against 5,232 on Friday - a 35.4 percent increase.

The number of people getting first shots on Saturday was also the highest in a single day since November 30.

As of Saturday, 4.88 million, or 72.5 percent, of the SAR's eligible population had received one jab, including 4.67 million, or 69.3 percent, who had two shots. And 390,000 have had a third jab as a booster.

From Saturday, authorities started allowing everyone who had two shots of Covid-19 vaccine six months ago to get a third shot.

But among people above 80 - the highest risk group - only 408,800, or 20.5 percent among the age group, had received one jab.

Chan also said yesterday that exemptions to the no shot, no entry rule can only apply to children who are not eligible for the vaccination and the elderly who are proven to be unfit medically.

She noted that authorities currently update social distancing measures every two weeks, and the current cycle ends on Wednesday.

But introducing the new inoculation rule on Thursday would be too big a rush for people to get a jab, meaning the policy will likely be introduced from January 20, when the next cycle before the Lunar New Year holiday starts.

On expert opinions that the bubble should also apply in parks and elderly homes, Chan said authorities shared that idea and will extend the system if necessary.

"We will gradually expand the vaccine bubble," she added, "and I do not rule out people needing at least one jab to enter non-regulated premises."

Yeung Wai-sing, chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, said operators are worried the vaccination requirement will deter customers, and he expects restaurant business to drop by 20 percent during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Government adviser Yuen Kwok-yung said he supported Chan's proposal to extend the bubble system and it should take in people going to work and school.

Jabs cannot prevent all Covid infections, he added, but they are effective in lowering mortality rates.

He said scientists believe the pandemic could end next year - three years after it broke out in Wuhan - but people may need booster shots annually.