Coronavirus: Hong Kong officials told to ‘consider children’s growth’ after parents complain about extending vaccine pass to 5-year-olds
- Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights received more than 1,600 messages over weekend from parents worrying about restricted access citywide for young ones
- Group warns that children from smaller homes or with special needs will be most affected if they cannot attend activities at public venues
Barring children from public venues if they have not received jabs Covid-19 could harm their long-term development, a Hong Kong concern group has warned, after parents complained about government plans to expand the vaccine pass to everyone aged 5 and above.
The Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights on Monday said more than 1,600 messages about the change to the vaccine pass had been posted on its Facebook page since Friday, many of them from parents expressing concerns about the scheme.
Authorities last week unveiled plans to require children aged five to 11 to have at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine before entering restaurants and most government premises, such as libraries and markets.
Billy Wong Wai-yuk, the group’s executive secretary, said parents could be forced to leave young loved ones at home alone once the tougher requirement came into effect.
“Some parents are concerned because their kids fell sick for a prolonged period after taking the first jab,” Wong told a radio programme.
According to government data, 67 per cent of the city’s 502,600 children between the age of three and 11 have received two does of a coronavirus vaccine, while 81.2 per cent have taken their first jab.
