Number of the Day: 144,000

Even monks are waiting in line to get vaccinated in Hong Kong

Even though 5.5 million people were eligible to sign up for a vaccine yesterday, only 144,000 took up the offer, though it was an eight-fold jump from 18,600 the day before.

It seems a lot of people are still not convinced to get the jab right away, including many domestic helpers, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor seemed disappointed by the low-key response.

Carrie Lam answering questions in Legco today

In a question and answer period with lawmakers in the Legislative Council, Lam sought to reassure the public, explaining there was an expert panel who decided on which vaccines to have in Hong Kong. She also said the government was considering ways to nudge people to get vaccinated.

"We are now considering offering incentives not only in aspects of cross-border travel, but also room to relax certain distancing measures for those who have been vaccinated," Lam said.

However, respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu believed even if there are incentives to encourage people to get the jab, the relaxation of social-distancing and travel restrictions will be limited until more people are vaccinated.

Leung said there was "a confidence problem that must be addressed", otherwise not enough elderly or vulnerable members of society would get vaccinated. 

Only 144,000 out of 5.5m people signed up

Professor Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist from the University of Hong Kong, said he was worried not enough people would take the shots even when there were enough doses for everybody in the city.

A high vaccination rate was the city's "pathway back to normal", he said.

Will people accept the government's incentives? To some degree many will as they are desperate to travel and dine more freely, or see a live show.

But many are in no hurry to get a vaccine yet, forcing everyone else to wait until they get the jab before Hong Kong can finally relax some restrictions.