Get Jabbed for a Chance to Win a Flat

A flat like this could be yours if you get your two vaccinations

Finally the numbers of people signing up to get vaccinations surged to 28,200 today, 10,500 for Sinovac, 17,700 for BioNTech.

The reason?

The chance to win a HK$10.8 million flat, and some other monetary prizes.

Enter the lucky draw to win a flat in Kwun Tong

Yesterday a group of companies: The Sino Group, Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, and Chinese Estate Holdings announced they were sponsoring a lucky draw for a one-bedroom flat measuring 449 sq ft in Kwun Tong. But that's not all -- they will also donate 20 prizes with prepaid or credit card value of HK$100,000 each.

They heeded Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's call for companies to give out financial incentives to get the public to get jabs, as she didn't think it was the government's job to do that.

Huh.  

But at least this announcement worked so far. If there wasn't much of a response then it showed even money wouldn't move Hongkongers to roll up their sleeves and protect themselves and others.

However others still refuse to budge with the same reasons, that they were scared of the side effects, that the vaccines were rushed out too clearly and wanted more proof they were effective, or claimed their doctors advised them against it.

Chan says HK may not order more vaccines

But Secretary for Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee warned if more people didn't take up the vaccine, then it would be hard for Hong Kong to justify ordering more, considering others places were desperate for vaccines. 

She added when the time came for booster shots, those who hadn't had two shots yet would not be eligible.

Meanwhile the University of Hong Kong infectious disease expert Yuen Kwok-yung believed the fourth wave was over in the city with zero local infections for 28 days, but warned the fifth wave could be coming.

What?!

He said it was tricky to decide on whether to lift social-distancing measures, like limits on the number of people per group, and mandatory mask-wearing in public areas. Yuen said the focus should not be on easing restrictions, but on preparing for the fifth wave.

Yuen has tough suggestions for those not jabbed

However, Yuen recommended some benefits to those who had been vaccinated. For example they should be allowed to stay in restaurants until midnight, while those who haven't had the jab should only be allowed to eat at lunch time in restaurants, and outdoors at other times. 

If a building has a transmission of the virus and requires evacuation, those who are inoculated should be allowed to quarantine at home, while those who are not must do the 21 days in a government quarantine camp. 

And once adolescents are allowed to get the jab, then those should be allowed to be in the classroom, while those who haven't been inoculated must study from home.

Sounds harsh, but definitely an incentive to get the vaccine.

Carrie, any thoughts?