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Published: 09:30, April 15, 2022 | Updated: 00:04, April 17, 2022
CE receives 4th virus jab, urges elderly people to do the same
By Wang Zhan
Published:09:30, April 15, 2022 Updated:00:04, April 17, 2022 By Wang Zhan

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (left) receives her fourth dose of the Sinovac vaccine at the Community Vaccination Centre in the Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong, April 14, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Thursday appealed to people aged 60 or above who had received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to get the fourth dose in a timely manner.

READ MORE: CE: Stay vigilant as measures are relaxed

Lam made the appeal as she received her fourth dose of the Sinovac vaccine at the Community Vaccination Center in the Hong Kong Central Library. She inspected the operation of the vaccination center after she took the jab.

Currently, the first-dose vaccination rate of the age group of 3 to 11 and that of 70 or above account for some 60% and some 70% respectively of the relevant populations, far lower than that of the other age groups.

Carrie Lam, HK chief executive

The HKSAR government said last Friday that after considering experts' recommendations, persons aged 60 or above who had received three doses of the Sinovac or BioNTech vaccines could receive the fourth vaccine dose at least three months after their last dose.

Lam talked to members of the public who went to the center to get vaccinated. They gave positive responses to the government's call to get vaccinated in a timely manner. 

She also thanked the healthcare workers and staff of the center.

"Currently, the first-dose vaccination rate of the age group of 3 to 11 and that of 70 or above account for some 60 percent and some 70 percent respectively of the relevant populations, far lower than that of the other age groups," Lam said.

The HKSAR government has been stepping up efforts to boost the vaccination rates of children and the elderly, as a matter of priority, to reduce their risk of hospitalization, serious complication or even death upon infection, she added.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (front right) chats with members of the public who receive their Sinovac vaccination at the Community Vaccination Centre in the Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong, April 14, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

She pointed out that the protection conferred by the vaccine may wane with time, calling on the elderly to receive their fourth dose in a timely manner. Those who have yet to be vaccinated should do so promptly, she added.

As schools will gradually resume face-to-face classes starting next week, she also encouraged parents to arrange vaccination for their children early.

Health secretary Sophia Chan Siu-chee also received her fourth dose of the Sinovac vaccine at the center Thursday.

ALSO READ: HK logs 1,043 new cases, detects BA.5 sub-variant in traveler

Hong Kong registered on Thursday 579 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 464 additional cases through self-reported rapid antigen tests, official data showed. 



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