Ho Pak-leung, the head of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection, said elderly citizens, especially those with chronic diseases, should consult a doctor before making the decision to get the coronavirus jabs.

He also suggested that the government should set up a free consultation service for those who could not afford to go to private clinics for it.

The microbiologist also pointed out that the government has not been transparent enough for public dissemination of relevant vaccine data.

“In mainland China, Chinese authorities only allow people aged 18 to 59 to get the Chinese-made jabs, but not for those aged 60 or above. While in Hong Kong, the government encourages those aged 60 or above to get it, this will create confusion among members of the public,” said Ho.

He urged the government to provide more data for members of the public to restore the confidence of people to get vaccinated, especially after a man had died two days after receiving the Sinovac vaccine.