{
  "id": 19300952,
  "title": "Covid booster uptake stalls among high-risk groups",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/covid-booster-uptake-stalls-among-high-risk-groups-19300952",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-10T06:55:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK News",
    "slug": "rthk-news",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1877247-20261110.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Hong Kong Doctors Union has expressed concerns about the slowing progress of the city's Covid-19 booster programme, citing dwindling uptake among older adults and high-risk groups. As of the latest figures, only 717 booster doses were administered in the previous month, with a total of 47,828 Covid-19 vaccines distributed over the past year. This equates to a vaccination rate of approximately 1.27 percent for individuals aged 50 and above, based on a population of around 3.62 million in that age group.\n\nA union questionnaire revealed that 79 percent of 300 surveyed doctors considered vaccination among older adults unsatisfactory, while nearly 40 percent admitted to not actively reminding patients about Covid-19 jabs. Additionally, almost 60 percent attributed their lack of proactive reminders to the absence of vaccines in the community.\n\nIvan Hung, chair of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of Hong Kong, emphasized the necessity of regular booster doses for high-risk individuals, noting that Hong Kong experiences annual Covid-19 seasonality. The next surge is expected to occur within a year, with antibody levels dropping to vulnerable levels, potentially leading to another surge.\n\nHung pointed to the limited availability of vaccination points, with only 58 public vaccination sites and 18 private clinics designated as Covid-19 vaccination stations remaining. He stressed the importance of simplifying the process, especially for older adults, suggesting that vaccination should be accessible through general practice visits, similar to the flu shot. Such a change could encourage both healthcare professionals and high-risk groups to prioritize timely vaccination to maintain immune protection.",
  "summary": "The Hong Kong Doctors Union warned that the city’s Covid-19 booster programme is losing momentum, citing low uptake among older adults and high-risk groups and limited access to vaccines in the community. According to the latest statistics from the Centre for Health Protection, only 717 Covid-19 booster doses were administered last month. Over the past 12 months, a total of 47,828 Covid-19…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}