Around 20 local ethnic minorities (EM) leaders and representatives, non-governmental organisations serving the EM community and healthcare professionals attended a Round Table Discussion today (July 8) chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, to exchange views and plan forward on promoting COVID-19 vaccination among the EM community in Hong Kong. 

     Professor Sophia Chan, while inviting local EM leaders and representatives to provide their views and insights on promoting COVID-19 vaccination to the EM community, appealed for their support to spread the messages to their friends and families and urge them to get vaccinated as early as possible.

     “Hong Kong is fortunate to have secured sufficient supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. There is also a choice of vaccines offered – the CoronaVac developed by Sinovac and Comirnaty developed by BioNTech/Fosun Pharma. Tens of millions of the jabs have been administered worldwide, and both vaccines are proven to be safe, efficacious and of good quality. The Department of Health (DH) has been working closely with its partners to provide regular updates on the latest situation and soliciting their support and collaboration in promoting COVID-19 vaccination,” she said.

     The Zubin Foundation, which is committed to improving the lives of members of the EM community in Hong Kong, shared with participants its experience in helping the EM community in Hong Kong overcome language barrier to receive correct and updated information on COVID-19 vaccination. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Zubin Foundation, Ms Shalini Mahtani, said, “In partnership with the Centre for Health Protection and other organisations, The Zubin Foundation organised three webinars in Punjabi, Nepali and Urdu, respectively, in April and May 2021. During the webinars, healthcare professionals addressed participants’ concerns on and clarified their myths regarding COVID-19 vaccination.”

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202107/08/P2021070800943.htm