Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun and Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau hosted an online briefing today to appeal to residential care homes (RCHs) and healthcare organisations for their support for new outreach COVID-19 vaccination measures.

Mr Sun noted that with the dedication and effort of various parties in arranging vaccination for RCH residents and stepping up explanations to ease concerns, the jab rates of the first and second doses among the residents have increased to about 93% and 87%.

However, in view of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in RCHs alongside the persistently high level of community infection cases, in addition to the third-dose vaccination rate of care home residents standing at only 39%, it is necessary to speed up vaccination in RCHs.

Prof Lo pointed out that there are 400,000 senior citizens aged 80 or above in Hong Kong.

According to statistics of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the death rate of the unvaccinated in this age group after being infected with the virus is as high as 16.23%. But for those who have received three doses of a vaccine, the death rate can be reduced to 1%.

The Government will launch a special programme with a target of not missing any resident who is ready to be vaccinated and getting them the jab as soon as possible, Prof Lo said.

Noting that most residents who were infected in the fifth wave have recovered and are due for the third dose soon, both officials expected the RCHs and medical teams to press ahead with their close collaboration and arrange vaccination for residents.

The Government's objective is to raise the second-dose vaccination rate to over 90% in August and provide the third dose to all suitable RCH residents by the end of September, with a view to increasing the third-dose vaccination rate to at least 50%.

By then, including recovered residents who had received two doses, it is expected that more than 80% of RCH residents could fulfil the requirement under the third stage of the vaccine pass.

Starting July 25, the Government will invite medical teams to visit their matched RCHs at least once a week for outreach vaccination service for six weeks. A special allowance will be provided to cover the additional manpower and transportation costs.

The Department of Health also recruited additional medical teams to participate in the outreach service in order to further expedite the vaccination progress.

For the minority of residents who remain unvaccinated due to objection on their part or from their relatives, the Government will continue to join hands with the medical teams and RCHs to enhance explanation and ease their concerns.