The Acting Director of Home Affairs, Miss Vega Wong, officiated at the launch ceremony of a community vaccination programme for the elderly named “Vaccination for the Elderly in SSP” (the programme) organised by the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO) held in Chak On Estate today (March 13). Covering all public housing estates in the district, the programme will tour around various locations in the district from now up to the end of March to provide vaccination services (including mobile vaccination stations or vehicles) to the elderly free of charge. The programme aims to encourage the elderly to receive COVID-19 vaccination, minimising their risk of virus infection and providing protection for themselves and the others.

Miss Wong said at the launch ceremony that the elderly is a group facing the highest risk as they are highly vulnerable to serious infection and subject to a higher mortality risk. The elderly should get vaccinated as soon as possible for protecting themselves. Since not all community vaccination centres are located in the vicinity of public housing estates in Sham Shui Po, the programme would set mobile vaccination stations or vehicles in the proximity of different housing estates to provide convenience to all elderly residents living in public housing estates in the district, with the first stop at Chak On Estate, Sham Shui Po. The Home Affairs Department and 18 District Offices under its purview will continue to organise community vaccination activities in various districts so as to enable citizens of all ages, especially the elderly who are more vulnerable to serious infection, to be vaccinated as early as possible.

The programme is organised by the SSPDO with the Bodhi Love Foundation Limited as its co-organiser. At the launch ceremony, Miss Wong presented a certificate of appreciation to the representative of the foundation to express gratitude to their unwavering support to the community. Accompanied by the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Paul Wong, she talked to the elderly joining the programme to learn more about the difficulties they encounter and the support they need under the epidemic. She also distributed rapid test kits supplied by the Central Government to the elderly who have been vaccinated at the event.

The SSPDO would like to thank the organisations for providing assistance in the set-up of vaccination stations or vehicles at different locations in the district, facilitating the smooth implementation of the programme.

The programme covers all 19 public housing estates in Sham Shui Po district and it is estimated that around 2 500 to 3 000 elderly citizens will be vaccinated. They will receive a gift pack of anti-epidemic goods upon the completion of the first dose. For more information about the programme, please refer to the Annex. 

Miss Wong thanked all sectors of the community for fighting against the epidemic in solidarity and providing support to vaccination activities organised by various District Offices, such that citizens can be vaccinated as soon as possible and high-risk groups can obtain effective protection.

All text and photos are borrowed from the official government press release: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202203/13/P2022031300639.htm”