Three hospitals now offering patients Covid jabs

The official in charge of the government’s vaccination drive, Patrick Nip, has expressed hopes that three new public hospital vaccination points will boost the number of elderly people getting Covid jabs.

Nip, the Civil Service Secretary, visited Queen Mary Hospital on Wednesday as it began giving out shots to its patients.

New BioNTech vaccination booths also opened at Tuen Mun Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Nip said the new jab sites are part of efforts to make it more convenient for elderly people to get inoculated.

“This is an additional channel that facilitates the elderly to receive the jab,” he said, noting that the government has also been offering outreach vaccination services at shopping malls and public estates.

Nip added that the new vaccination booths mainly target those who have appointments at the hospitals.

“While they are at the hospitals waiting for their medical consultations or waiting for their drugs… they can get the jab,” he explained, adding that those who do not need to visit the hospitals are advised to get their vaccination at other centres.

A 63-year-old man, who was getting a jab at Queen Mary, said he felt more at ease receiving his vaccine in hospital.

“Just like VIP treatment…it’s better because many people are there to look after you,” he said.