Some light at end of tunnel for city with vaccine pledge by Carrie Lam
- As infections continue to rise in the fourth Covid-19 wave, news that the first batches are on their way is welcome, but vigilance still remains key in fight
Hongkongers were all eyes and ears again when Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor called another media session on the Covid-19 epidemic yesterday. If there is any good news, it would be the assurance that the first batch of vaccines will be available by next month. But the same “breakthrough” hailed by the chief executive is regrettably not available when it comes to curbing the raging fourth wave. While the compulsory hotel quarantine measures are further tightened to help stamp out imported cases arising from an expected surge in people returning for Christmas, there does not seem to be any immediate relief to the deepening crisis.
The city’s leader is well aware of public expectations on vaccine procurement. Lam said the government’s emergency vaccination programme would first cover medical staff, high-risk workers, the elderly and chronically ill on a voluntary basis. Most people would also be vaccinated next year, she said. Welcome as it is, the implication is that some people may not be vaccinated as early as they would like. Also, there would not be a choice of which vaccine to take, although the government has signed deals with at least two manufacturers.
However, the government, to its credit, has stepped up efforts to curb the spread. These include the power to impose lockdown on places where people are mandated to undergo virus tests. But officials appear to be indecisive when it comes to enforcement.