The vaccination rate for the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines at residential care homes (RCHs) has reached 84%, the Government announced today.

It launched the third stage of the outreach vaccination service on April 15 and set the target of providing the service to unvaccinated RCH residents who have recovered from COVID-19 and those who are due to receive the next vaccine dose after their first or second dose by yesterday.

Under this stage, vaccination has been arranged for residents of about 1,100 RCHs for the elderly and RCHs for persons with disabilities who are suitable for immunisation, largely achieving a comprehensive vaccination coverage.

The overall first-dose vaccination rate at care homes rose from 55% in mid-March to 84% as at yesterday, with the rate at eldery care homes at 82% and that of RCHs for the disabled at 89%.

Meanwhile, the overall vaccination rates for the second and third doses at care homes are 56% and 14%.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip visited a nursing home in Wong Tai Sin today and offered words of encouragement to the residents receiving their COVID-19 jab.

He said the outreach teams had paid a total of 4,347 visits to RCHs to provide the vaccination service, adding that the latest vaccination rate is the fruit borne by the unrelenting efforts of all participating staff as well as the public and private healthcare teams.

Currently, about 5.8% of residents have yet to receive the jab due to their refusal or objections from their family members, which is less than the figure of about 10% in early April.

Noting that seniors and care home residents are the most vulnerable and in need of the protection conferred by the vaccines, Mr Nip hopes every citizen will recognise the risk of death faced by the elderly after infection and the efficacy of vaccines.

Since the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, COVID-19 confirmed cases have been recorded at various care homes. The Government has enhanced the co-ordination of outreach vaccination to enable suitable residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

A total of 16 outreach teams have been mobilised to provide health assessments and vaccination to the residents, involving a total of over 700 healthcare personnel.

In addition, the Social Welfare Department has set up a database to grasp more accurately the vaccination situation at RCHs in order to facilitate the outreach teams' work.

It also aims to assess the epidemic trends, risks and counter-measures of individual RCHs and the sector, thereby putting in place an effective pre-warning and monitoring system to cope with a potential sixth wave of the epidemic.