Walk-in jabs extended to all those eligible

The government has announced that everyone aged 12 or above can receive walk-in jabs at 21 community vaccination centres from Wednesday.

A government spokesman said the centres would distribute ‘same-day tickets’ from 7.45am every day on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The same-day ticket arrangement has been operating smoothly since its launch on July 29. After evaluating the actual situation, we have decided to extend the arrangement to cover all eligible persons for receiving vaccinations to further enable members of the public to get vaccinated,” he said.

More than 4.4 million residents, or 65 percent of the eligible population, have taken at least one dose of the vaccine, but the vaccination rate among the elderly people remains low.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam also said recently that the number of people taking the coronavirus jabs has dropped to a “worrying” level, as she urged people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, health authorities on Monday reported five imported Covid-19 cases.

All of them tested positive for the virus while undergoing quarantine at hotels here.

They flew in from the United States, the Philippines, Kenya and Myanmar.

Four of them have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.