Vaccination promotion and public education are the keys to enhancing public awareness and support for the Programme. The Department of Health (DH) has been disseminating health advice and information about the vaccines to members of the public—making use of health education materials, such as infographics, social media posts, television promotional videos, radio promotional clips, thematic video series, relevant guidelines, pamphlets and posters. DH has also been extensively publicising the Programme through various promotional outlets.

The thematic website was in place by the end of January 2021, before the official commencement of the Programme, offering the most up-to-date and accurate information to the public by text, infographics and multimedia content. The website also links to the online booking system of the Programme so that members of the public can book their vaccinations conveniently.

In addition, to facilitate the public browsing vaccination statistics and other important vaccine-related information at a glance, the Hong Kong Vaccination Dashboard has been made available on the website since March 2021 to provide information, such as the latest number of doses administered, the age distribution of those vaccinated and safety monitoring data by means of graphs and tables. As of 31 July 2021, the thematic website has recorded more than 8.2 million visitors and 31.6 million page views cumulatively.

To boost the Programme, DH has made a series of promotional videos and radio clips on vaccination booking and the importance of getting the jab. By sharing third-party insights, DH encourages members of the public to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families.

DH has collaborated with television channels to produce and broadcast videos and programme segments, including family doctors giving information on the suitability of specific groups to receive vaccines, dispelling common misconceptions, and highlighting the latest and correct information about the vaccines. Everything has been packaged in various types of TV and radio programmes.

DH and the Hospital Authority have also worked in collaboration with media groups to arrange for medical professionals to appear on live phone-in programmes to explain and answer public enquires about safe vaccination for people with chronic illnesses. News articles and advertorials on vaccines in various newspapers and online media platforms have channelled official information to dispel myths of vaccines and allay fear. In addition, DH has attached importance to getting the vaccination message across different age groups through social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp.

DH works closely with leaders of local ethnic minorities groups to disseminate the Government’s latest fight-the-virus information to their communities, and works in partnership with various stakeholders, including foreign consulates in Hong Kong, key organisations providing support to ethnic and religious groups. Online and in-person health talks, as well as videos on vaccination tailor-made for ethnic minorities have been popular. In addition, relevant educational materials and videos are available in multiple languages to help them better understand the Government's call to get vaccinated and nearby facilities they can visit to do so.

To further encourage ethnic minorities groups to get vaccinated, DH has engaged a non-governmental organisation to start a six-month “Pilot Health Promotion Project for Ethnic Minorities”, primarily for the Nepalese, Indian and Pakistani communities in the Yau Tsim Mong and Sham Shui Po districts, from March 2021, to offer home visit and hotline services.

Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective measure to protect people in anti-epidemic efforts. It is also the key to overcoming the epidemic and resuming normal ways of life and cross-boundary travel. Based on scientific evidence, the two vaccines provided by the Government have met the requirements of safety, efficacy and quality. Moreover, their common side effects are generally mild and temporary. Therefore, with the Government and experts sparing no effort in monitoring and collecting safety data for assessment, it will be safe for the vast majority of us to get vaccinated.

For yourself and others, please do not hesitate to get vaccinated as early as possible so that Hong Kong can get out of the epidemic as soon as possible.

For more information on the vaccines, please visit the thematic website: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/