Vulnerable groups in Hong Kong should get Covid-19 vaccinations: medical expert

Hong Kong’s vulnerable groups should get vaccinated against Covid-19 infections once a year as new outbreaks will occur every six to nine months, a medical expert has urged.

David Hui Shu-cheong, a professor of respiratory medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, made the appeal on Saturday while noting that the current wave of Covid-19 infections had been declining since late last month and could end in July or August.

“The current outbreak started in April, peaked at the end of May and is now beginning to subside,” he told a radio programme.

“High-risk groups such as the chronically ill, children, the elderly and those with weakened immunity can easily develop complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure or even die once infected with the Covid-19 virus.”

Authorities have reported six severe paediatric Covid cases so far this year, none of which have been fatal. Two of the children had underlying illnesses and four were unvaccinated.

Hui said that as Covid-19 antibodies were not long-lasting, there would be periodic decreases in overall community immunity and new outbreaks occurring in cycles – about once every six to nine months.

“As a new outbreak will come back every year, I would advise high-risk groups to get jabbed at least once every year against the infection,” he said.