Vaccination rate in Hong Kong may pass 80% before Feb. 24

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Jan. 18 that the overall vaccination rate is expected to exceed 80 percent before the start of the city's planned vaccine bubble on Feb. 24.

About 20,000 people a day have been receiving their first dose of the vaccine, and the total number of people getting vaccinated is around 40,000 per day.

Lam said more people are also willing to receive a third dose – known as a booster jab.

Lam noted an increase in the vaccination rate among the elderly, saying that 55 percent of people 70 to 79 years old have received the first dose, and 27 percent of those over 80.

Lam said that it is likely that the overall vaccination rate will be over 80 percent, or even nearly 90 percent, before Feb. 24.

The vaccine bubble arrangement, scheduled to begin on Feb. 24, will see unvaccinated people being barred from entering public spaces, such as libraries, eateries and campuses.

Sources: China Daily, Xinhua