Mr and Mrs Chan have been longing to see their family. Hong Kong, 2022. © MSF
Mr Chan has not left home for a few months since he was discharged from hospital. Hong Kong, 2022. © MSF
Mrs Chan has tried to adapt to the situation through television programmes. “People teach us how to do exercises at home and calm oneself. I follow the instructions and practice. As long as I am healthy, I will not overthink about other matters.”
The couple has been longing to see their family. The warm wishes of their grandsons are a comfort to them during the outbreak. Mrs Chan mentioned several times that their grandsons sometimes called and chatted with them. The youngest grandson even asked if he could visit them. She said with a smile, “His studying is not very good. I told him he can come to visit us when he gets a higher score at school.”
Low vaccination rate among elderly
The elderly vaccination rate is relatively low in Hong Kong. Some elderly citizens have not received the vaccine due to the fear of going out and the inability to reach the health facilities.
Homebound elderly who live alone are among the more vulnerable communities. They are not able to get vaccinated at centres because they can’t leave home and they lack the knowledge to register for vaccination online.Dr. Nason Tan,Ops Support Unit Director
In view of their needs, Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) launched a mobile vaccination programme for homebound elderly in partnership with Christian Family Services Centre in March. The couple is among the participants in the programme. They considered having a COVID-19 vaccination so they could go back to their normal routine. However, it was a challenge for their daughter to bring them both to vaccination centre because of their health conditions.
When they learnt from their social worker from Christian Family Services Centre about the mobile vaccination programme for homebound elderly, they talked to their daughter and immediately decided to join the programme. They had the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of April.
The couple and the social worker from Christian Family Services Centre. Hong Kong, 2022. © MSF
And now what is on their wish list after getting vaccinated?
“I want to have dim sum in a restaurant with my children and grandchildren,” Mr Chan said. In addition to this, Mrs Chan has another wish - worshipping at Wong Tai Sin Temple. She said, “I will pray for the whole community and my family in front of Wong Tai Sin. I wish I will stay healthy and will not become a hindrance to my children.”
