What's happened
Recent surveys reveal alarming vaccination trends among high-risk groups in Hong Kong and the UK. A significant percentage of individuals at risk have not received COVID-19 vaccinations in over a year, raising concerns about public health and the potential for severe illness as new variants emerge.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, a survey found that 90% of high-risk individuals in Hong Kong have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in over a year, with many believing they do not need further shots. This highlights a significant public health concern as the co-circulation of COVID-19 and influenza poses a high risk of complications. In contrast, Byline Times reports that the UK’s JCVI has limited vaccine access for at-risk groups, including pregnant women, raising alarms among healthcare professionals about the implications for public health and equity. The Guardian's study indicates that while most teenagers recover from long COVID within two years, the ongoing health issues for some underscore the need for continued research and support for affected individuals.
How we got here
As COVID-19 continues to evolve, vaccination efforts have faced challenges. Recent studies highlight a concerning lack of uptake among vulnerable populations, despite ongoing public health campaigns aimed at increasing vaccination rates.
More on these topics
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The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.