By Daisy C L Mandap
| Key government officials were on hand to receive the first Covid-19 vaccines from Sinovac |
The first coronavirus vaccines arrived in
Kong
called as “a very important milestone” in the city’s fight against the
epidemic.
The first 1 million doses of the vaccine from Sinovac was
flown in via Cathay Pacific flight CX391 from
after health officials reported 13 new Covid-19 cases.
On hand to meet the shipment, apart from Dr Chan, was
Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip.
“Today is a very happy occasion where the Sinovac vaccines,
a million doses, have arrived in
Chan said, shortly before leading the inspection of the consignment.
“It’s indeed a very importantmilestone for all the Covid-19
prevention and control work that we have been doing. All the vaccines that we
have authorised for emergency use is through the hard work of our expert panel
and proven to be effective, of quality and also safe.”
She and Nip appealed to the public to take part in the
city’s free vaccination program.
“The program will give us hope to control and end the
epidemic as early as possible,” said Nip, who also announced that the mass
inoculation will begin early next week.
“Let’s get vaccinated early to protect ourselves and
others.”
The second shipment of vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech is
scheduled to arrive later this month.
| The precious cargo was flown in from Beijing |
Various reports said Chief Secretary Carrie Lam and her
senior officials will be the first to receive the Sinovac jabs on Monday.
Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils will get the vaccine on the
same day.
On Tuesday, the online registration for receiving the
vaccine will start, amid what looks like a lukewarm response to the program
from the public.
A new survey shows only 39% of the city’s 7.5 million people
are interested in getting the jab, amid worries about its adverse effects,
especially on the elderly.
But Nip said in an earlier interview that the government had
given priority to elderly people because they are a vulnerable group.
He also said the government would abide by suggestions made
by a panel of experts before implementing its inoculation plan.
Apart from those aged 60 and older, those given priority for
the vaccine are health workers, residents and staff of care homes, those
providing essential public services such as the disciplined forces, postal and
hygiene workers; and cross-border transport workers, like truck drivers, air
and sea crew, and fishermen.
The inoculation is free for all of the city’s 7.5 million
people, who will also be insured by the government for any adverse effect of
the vaccine on their health.
| Au says more hidden infections acquired over the long holiday could emerge |
Meanwhile, the Center for Health Protection announced at
today’s press briefing that 12 of the new cases were locally acquired, with
eight of them from unknown sources.
The sole imported case was an Indonesian domestic helper who
arrived on Feb 5, and tested positive on her 12th day in hotel quarantine.
Among the local cases were three restaurant workers, two of
whom got themselves tested on their employer’s advice.
One was a cook at a noodle shop in Tai Hang, another a
server at a McDonald’s outlet in Central, while the third is a waitress at a
Chinese restaurant in Tin Hau.
CHP’s Dr Albert Au said the eateries have been asked to
close down for 14 days for disinfection, while the patients’ close contacts
will be moved to quarantine centers.
Another case was a firefighter at Kwai Chung Fire Station,
becoming the seventh patient to emerge from the cluster.
The fireman also worked at Lai King Fire Station, forcing
about 140 people there into quarantine.
Among the positive cases with unknown source was a female
detainee in Ma Tau Kok. The 41-year-old woman who claimed to have entered Hong
Kong from
was arrested on Feb 5 and initially tested negative for Covid-19.
After she tested positive, all the detainees who shared the
same cell with her were moved to the quarantine center. Immigration was also
advised to get all the other detainees and staff who interacted with her to get
tested.
Au also reported about a dozen preliminary positive cases,
five of them untraceable. They comprise a retiree, a private doctor who visited
an elderly care home, an office employee who was detected at a community
testing center, a taxi driver, and an assistant editor at RTHK.
Au said the high proportion of cases with unknown source
could indicate that some of the hidden infections acquired during the Lunar New
Year holidays have yet to emerge.
“There is evidence that there are still quite a number of silent transmissions
in the community, coupled with a large amount of gatherings among the local
population during the Chinese New Year, it is possible that some of the
undetected cases may cause ongoing transmission in the community,” Au said.
