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HONG KONG – Hong Kong plans to provide free coronavirus vaccines for all its residents, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said on Wednesday (December 2) as the city battles the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections.
Chan told the Legislative Council that the vaccines would be offered first to three million people considered to be most at risk or vulnerable, public broadcaster RTHK reported. These include medical workers, patients with chronic diseases, and the elderly.
He added that receiving the vaccine would be voluntary.
The government has allocated HK $ 10 million (S $ 1.7 million) to promote and educate Hong Kong residents about the program, he added.
Additionally, government regulators would prioritize registering Covid-19 vaccines when available, according to RTHK.
“We will accelerate research procedures while ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of vaccines … The authorities will take all necessary steps to allow the use of any vaccine that is shown to be safe and effective. Necessary”, RTHK reported that Ms. Chan said.
She revealed that the government plans to purchase two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for each Hong Kong resident, and that the vaccines would come from at least two different manufacturers.
The city reported 103 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, 97 of them local and 15 from unknown sources. On Tuesday, the number of new cases was 82.
Hong Kong has increased restrictions on clubs, bars and restaurants in the past week, and has also closed schools.
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