Enticing the Elderly with Coupons to get Jab

Some elderly sign up for the jab at Shek Lei Estate, Kwai Hing

From the beginning, people suggested a good incentive would be for the government to handout  HK$5,000 in cash to people who are fully vaccinated.

But did the authorities consider this proposition?

"To offer cash or something physical to encourage vaccination shouldn't be done by the government and may even cause the opposite effect," said Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in late May.

Officials are urging the elderly to get the jab

But vaccination rates would have definitely been at higher levels if the government had done that from the beginning instead of relying on the corporate sector to create lucky draws in order to incentivize more people to get jabbed.

Now the government is desperately trying to get older people inoculated -- the most vulnerable population -- and now it's trying something new -- walk-in clinics and HK$200 in coupons.

Currently there are only 13 percent of those over 80 who are fully vaccinated. Part of the reason is misinformation, part of it is them not being internet savvy. Who would expect elderly people to be able to book an appointment online? The government is naive to think seniors' children will help them.

So today vaccination stations were set up in Shek Lei Estate in Kwai Hing, and one man in his 90s admitted he was there to get jabbed in order to receive HK$200 in supermarket coupons.

Seniors can use walk-in vaccination stations now

"I am poor so that's why [I'm getting the vouchers]," he said. "I was told by a district councillor [about the program today]."

The government will set up vaccination stations in Queen Elizabeth, Tuen Mun, and Queen Mary hospitals next week.

Fifty-eight percent of residents in their 60s have received at least one jab, while for those in their 70s it's 39 percent.

Today 260 seniors got vaccinated at Shek Kei Estate, and another 100 at Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon in Kwun Chung Sports Centre.

C'mon folks! Let's get the jab for HK$200 supermarket coupons!