In Hong Kong, still millions of people did not get 3 vaccine shots or at all. In Africa, 80% of the population want but cannot afford vaccination. The latest news is that many elderly people in Hong Kong did not accept vaccination because their children opposed. Some told me Omicron attack could let them take a rest at home as a result of ‘work from home’.

Selfish people are those clever ones who knew the truth but pretended they did not, because they did not want anything to adversely affect themselves. Interests and lives of others are secondary. Self-centered people were those unclever ones who were not wise enough to realize the truth but pretended they knew. Their stubbornness, if not ignorance, is out of too much self-love or a lack of reasonableness. These pathetic ones hurt themselves as much as they are hurting others.

Hong Kong was devastated during the past 2 years by the pandemic(大流行病) of COVID-19 economically and socially. The variant of COVID-19 called Omicron followed and is currently driving a terrible surge of new infections in our city. If Hong Kong had had adequate crisis management measures before Omicron brought Hong Kong to its knees in February 2022, thousands of death cases could have been avoided. Up to this moment in time, millions of people locally were infected. The number of death cases approaching 10,000 is so frightening that it sends shivers down our spine. Unfortunately, the threat will not stop. Another wave of mutated virus may come. Many can catch virus multiple times. Deadly Omicron is not mild because it is actually killing thousands of people who are infant, old or sick. Cross-border travel will also not be permitted by the Chinese Mainland unless and until virus is no longer twiggled in the arms of Hong Kong.

The ultimate solution to the problem must be universal vaccination. The full vaccination rate (3-4 doses) in Hong Kong has always been vexingly low. Some have great faith in fools inclusive of themselves. Some choose to rely on rumours and negative comments. Some are controlled by lies used to cause deliberate social instability in Hong Kong. The following are the 12 common psychological barriers, ill-intentioned or ingenuous, that lead to the high proportion of COVID-19 vaccine refusal in our city：

1. “You can still catch Omicron despite vaccination!” No medical treatment is 100% guaranteed. But, there is clear evidence that vaccines do effectively induce great immune response to the virus and save you.
2. “Let’s believe in the Darwinian theory of survival of the fittest.” High mortality rate in senior adults will realistically reduce health care costs.” This cruel standpoint proves that inhumanity to man is done by man himself more than any other of nature’s causes.
3. “People should not be afraid of death and let it be easy when it happens!” When someone that you love dies, would you not grieve and say the same thing?
4. “I am anti-government and don’t trust the government. I am against any vaccination measure!” Such anarchism is an ineffective way of improving the world. Good deeds should be the art of the possible, not of destruction. You eject the authority by way of causing more to become sick or die? Is it wise?
5. “I am too busy! Don’t bother me!” Brother, a lack of concern or passion for your life especially your health could be a sign that you are mentally incapable! A jab will only take you a few minutes and your modest diligence can save you the trouble of spending more time in the hospital and the long healing process when you are indisposed.
6. “I usually stay at home. Don’t worry!” You are like an ostrich which sticks its head in the sand instead of facing the danger. The domestic helper, caretaker, postman or repairman can all be contagious and spread the virus from themselves to you.
7. “Vaccinations contain toxic chemicals which will poison children?” Companies which make vaccines carried out careful tests on children. The death rates among the unvaccinated kids are much higher than those of the vaccinated. It is really a funny thing that you prefer to die of virus rather than, following your fear, the remote risk of a vaccinated person dying from Omicron.
8. “I fear that the side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine will kill me!” The common side effects are very mild such as injection site pain, fatigue and unserious headache. On the other hand, the elderly and children are very vulnerable to the fatal damage of coronavirus, especially damage to the brain.
9. “I refuse vaccine jab so that the out-of-control pandemic situation in Hong Kong will discourage the Mainland tourists from visiting Hong Kong. They are disturbing me!” These anti-social radicals are counterproductive. Any argument that requires the suspension of reasonableness as a reason for moral support is an immoral proposition. Millions of Mainland tourists keep Hong Kong economically alive and feed the grassroots.
10. “I am a naturalist and believe that we are subordinate to the Nature of which I am a part. Death is natural.” I am sure that a naturalist would not like to see mountains of dead bodies in some of the hospitals where a lot of people were waiting for their turn to die. Besides, a naturalist would be kind and hate to see other people get infected because of your virus!
11. “I have ‘needle phobia’ and cannot stand any medical procedure that involves injections!” Such phobia can be managed through anti-anxiety medication such as Emla cream. Learning to overcome such a fear is a must since when you grow older and come of age, medical injections will get more frequent and inevitable for the sake of your personal healthcare.
12. “Omicron is very mild and like a flu. I don’t need any precautions.” Omicron may be somehow less dangerous than previous virus. Medical reports however said that it could cause severe disease in people who are physically weak or have chronic illness. Some people do experience very bad post-COVID-19 conditions such as constant head pain and memory loss.

At this critical juncture of Hong Kong fighting Omicron vigorously, the head and the heart of all citizens must go together. We shall not let bad, stuck-up or silly people working in league to destroy the unity and common sense among us, especially the unwary members of the public. The selfish or stupid arguments for vaccine refusal, if un-restrained, will push the inability of Hong Kong to suppress Omicron to a bottomless pit again in the coming months when the virus can mutate to create another wave.

Hospitals in Hong Kong, due to Omicron’s lethal attack, are busy and unable to treat other patients. Our co-operation on government’s vaccination efforts will put hospitals back to normal and indirectly save more other lives who are not Omicron patients suffering from the unspeakable pain of cancers.

“In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”—Mother Teresa.

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