HONG KONG (Reuters] – Hong Kong will begin to distribute booster doses COVID-19 vaccines next week. Health Secretary Sophia Chan announced Wednesday that Hong Kong would start to roll out the booster doses. The announcement comes amid intensified efforts by authorities to persuade Beijing to allow crossborder travel into mainland China.

Global Financial Hub’s vaccine campaign has been slower than other countries. Only about 65% were fully vaccinated by shots from Germany’s BioNTech, China’s Sinovac or Germany’s Sinovac.

Around 85% people over the age of 80 living in the Chinese-ruled Chinese city of 7.5million haven’t been vaccinated.

Priority will be given to the elderly, health professionals, and cross-border truck drivers, as well as other people in higher risk categories.

The booster is available to approximately 1.86 million individuals. They can book the bookings starting Nov. 5 and receive their boost as early as Nov. 11.

Chan stated that the elderly are amongst the most vulnerable and that we all have an obligation to ensure their safety.

Hong Kong follows Beijing’s example and keeps strict travel restrictions. This contrasts with a worldwide trend to open up and live with the coronavirus.

Hong Kong is being warned by business lobbyists that it may lose its talent and investments, as well be more competitive with other financial hubs, such as Singapore.

Hong Kong has placed a mandatory quarantine on hotel arrivals from many countries, despite there being very few recent cases in the area and a virtually non-existent environment for COVID-19.

Patients who have tested positive will immediately be admitted to hospital. After being discharged from the hospital, they are required to remain there for 14 days.