Hong Kong must do whatever it takes to drive up Covid-19 vaccination rate
- Countries that are ahead in the race to herd immunity are reopening their economy and borders, and societies grappling with vaccine hesitancy, like Hong Kong, must step up efforts to catch up
- More information, incentives and an appeal to people’s sense of duty must all be tried
Last year, the world began its race to contain Covid-19. Despite the successful development of various vaccines, only a handful of countries appear to be ahead in the race.
Vaccination is important. Preventive measures such as the frequent washing of hands, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing play a role in containing the virus spread, but getting people vaccinated is most vital, according to the WHO.
Many scientists agree that the vaccination rate needed to induce herd immunity is around 70 per cent of the population. Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of infection, and having a significant proportion of the population vaccinated will also create herd immunity, a wall of defence against the virus that will help to impede its further spread and possible mutation.
Meanwhile, the two largest economies in the world, the US and China, are setting a good example – their vaccine roll-outs show no sign of slowing. These two superpowers are this time engaged in a race that will benefit the whole world, no matter who wins, because the sooner their economies – with a combined GDP accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the global total – return to normal, the faster the rest of the world can get back on their feet.
In the US, half of the country’s adults are fully vaccinated. The government recently expanded vaccination to its 17 million children aged 12 to 15, after a similar campaign for teenagers 16 and above was rolled out in most states in April. By mid-May, 39.3 per cent of the American population had received two doses of the vaccines.
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To drive vaccination, many countries are doing whatever it takes to tempt, if not coerce, their citizens to get inoculated. Some countries in Europe such as Serbia and some states in the US are offering cash and lotteries with huge jackpots to entice people to get the jab.
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We should also convince those sitting on the fence to see the facts clearly, supported by statistics. As just one example, the number of people dying from cancer or in car accidents is far higher than those who die as a result of getting Covid-19 jabs.
The global race to get people inoculated is critical, because even if most people in wealthy countries are protected after receiving vaccines, the virus could continue to mutate and transform into another deadly variant in poor countries where vaccination rates are low.
The last thing we need is for citizens with no pre-existing health conditions to hold back. While everyone is free to make their own choice, now is the time to ditch the “wait and see” attitude and do what’s right: get vaccinated.
Ken Chu is group chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group and a national committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference