Enabling elderly persons to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines is the first step to encourage them to get vaccinated. Around 170 elderly persons from Yau Tsim Mong District participated in a health talk to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines under the Yau Tsim Mong Elderly Vaccination Day held in an activity room of Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building today (August 28). Voluntary healthcare workers were on the spot to answer questions from the elderly.
 
     After the talk, the Government arranged for the elderly persons who opted for receiving the Sinovac vaccine to go to the Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) at Kwun Chung Sports Centre for vaccination. Those who opted for the BioNTech vaccine were assisted by staff on site to make vaccination bookings.
 
     Attending the Yau Tsim Mong Elderly Vaccination Day, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, showed support for elderly persons to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and get vaccinated. "The health talk is conducted by healthcare workers who answer questions from the elderly on the spot. Vaccination is arranged following the talk. Such arrangements can enhance the elderly's understanding of the vaccines and let them feel at ease and make it convenient for them to receive vaccination," he said.
 
     "The vaccination rate of elderly persons in Hong Kong is still low. They will be subject to extremely high risk of getting seriously ill and death if there is another wave of the epidemic. Hence they are the group of persons that we want to protect the most. Elderly persons or their family members should learn about COVID-19 vaccines in an objective manner. Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are highly effective in protecting against severe diseases and death from COVID-19 infection. We definitely do not want to see elderly persons getting infected and we will need to consider the risk for infected elderly to fall seriously ill and die should there be another wave of the epidemic. I appeal to elderly persons to grasp the opportunity to get vaccinated immediately before the winter influenza season arrives.”
               
     Currently, persons aged 60 or above can get same-day tickets at more than 20 CVCs to receive vaccination without prior booking. Accompanying family members can receive vaccinations together. Experts recommend that all elderly people who have previously received influenza vaccines can safely receive COVID-19 vaccines. If the elderly have chronic diseases, they should get vaccinated as soon as possible for protection while their condition is stable.
 
     Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the voluntary healthcare workers for holding the talk, and the medical team and administrative support staff of the CVC at Kwun Chung Sports Centre.
 
     Yau Tsim Mong Elderly Vaccination Day was organised by the Yau Tsim Mong District Office, Tsimshatsui District Kaifong Welfare Association, Yaumati Kai Fong Welfare Advancement Association and the Mongkok Kai-fong Association. The Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Social Welfare Office was a co-organiser of the event.

Ends/Saturday, August 28, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:33

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