Parents shy away from jabs

Only 24 percent of parents have allowed their children to be vaccinated, according to a study commissioned by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong.

That came despite the study, conducted by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, showing that 82 percent of parents of children aged five to 11 were worried that poor hygiene on the part of their offsprings posed increased risks of infection.

Two-thirds of those who wanted their children to be vaccinated opted for BioNTech/Fosun whereas less than one-third chose Sinovac. Another 4 percent were undecided.

Adverse side effects and health complications were the main concerns for parents who were hesitant to have their children vaccinated.

Less than 10 percent of children aged between 12 and 15 had side-effects such as fevers, bouts of dizziness and a skin-rash outbreak after a jab. There have also been no cases of heart muscle inflammation, or myocarditis.

Hong Kong's fifth pandemic wave has seen more than 200 cases of infections in children aged 11 and below, including a three-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy passing away, the two youngest fatalities among 290 deaths.

In light of this, the society urged parents to get their children inoculated as soon as possible.

According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, unvaccinated children are 10 times more likely to be hospitalized than children who have received three doses of an mRNA vaccine, such as BioNTech's.

Even after recovery, some children develop "long Covid" symptoms, including chest pains, fatigue, memory loss, concentration issues and, in serious cases, suffered organ failure.

"As far as I know, there are many children in Hong Kong who have been admitted to hospital after diagnosis and their condition has taken a drastic turn for the worse, requiring admission to the pediatric ICU," said pediatrician Chang Kit. "Parents should never take it lightly."

The society urged the government to give parents scientific information to address their concerns, open more children vaccination centers, and provide two choices of vaccines at school outreach programs.

Those aged five to 11 can receive the BioNTech jab exclusively at children community vaccination centers at Hong Kong Children's Hospital in Kai Tak and the Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre in Sha Tin. A third BioNTech center at Gleneagles Hospital in Wong Chuk Hang will commence service on Thursday.

At regular jab centers, as well as public and private clinics, Sinovac is available to those aged three and above, while the BioNTech jab is available to those aged 12 or above.

As of yesterday, 92,489, or 17.5 percent of Hongkongers between three and 11 have had at least one jab, including 1,397, or 0.3 percent, who have taken two jabs.

Over 5.78 million, or 85.9 percent, of the eligible population have had at least one jab, including 5.1 million, or 75.8 percent, who have had two. More than 1.45 million, or 21.5 percent, have received three shots.