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My Hong Kong | How the pull of dim sum convinced Hong Kong’s elderly to get vaccinated
- Many old people in Hong Kong stubbornly refused to get vaccinated despite cash handouts, lotteries and even the chance to win a US$1.4 million apartment
- It was only the threat of missing out on yum cha because of new Covid-19 restrictions that changed their minds
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Who would have thought that all it would take was a basket of dim sum – which costs around HK$20-$40 (US$2.50-US$5) – to convince Hong Kong’s elderly population to finally get their Covid-19 vaccines?
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For about a year, nothing could persuade Hong Kong’s 70-and-aboves to get vaccinated, not even the threat of contracting the virus itself.
Even the business sector stepped in to help by offering a flurry of cash incentives by way of vaccination lotteries. Prizes included shopping vouchers valid at various retailers and supermarkets, cash handouts and luxury cars. The most extravagant prize to date was a Kwun Tong apartment valued at HK$10.8 million (US$1.4 million).
Still our obstinate elderly refused to budge. They might have weighed the low odds of winning these prizes against the high chances of the (potentially) serious side-effects of the jab because of their weakened immune systems or pre-existing health conditions.
So for the past year or so, those aged 70 and above continued to resist – until recently. All it took was a simple government vaccine ultimatum – no jab, no yum cha – to get Hong Kong’s elderly flocking to vaccination centres.
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