​Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a radio programme today (July 4):
Reporter: Professor Chan, you estimated that half of the population has to be vaccinated by August in order to achieve herd immunity, so judging from the trend, would you say herd immunity is almost unachievable?
Secretary for Food and Health: Currently, there are more people who have booked for vaccination. There were over 60 000 people who got vaccinated (yesterday), either the first or second dose. Obviously, if this momentum is being kept until September, there is a possibility we can achieve 50 per cent. But of course, we have to be very cautious, because as I have said, the momentum has to be kept. If there are less people who embark on vaccination, we may not be able to achieve, so we have to continue our promotion efforts. Of course, 50 per cent is not enough, if we are talking about building herd immunity. Many of our experts actually said it has to be at least 70 per cent. But I think if this momentum can be kept, or further strengthened, for example in the elderly group, young people as well as different frontline groups who actually would be benefited more if they get vaccinated. If these groups come forward to take the vaccine, I think the vaccination rate can be further increased, but I think more work would need to be done.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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