In order to build a barrier against the spread of the novel coronavirus on campus, the University of Macau (UM) has organised a three-day vaccination campaign for its faculty members and students, with over 1,700 students and teachers expected to receive the vaccine, starting today. UM is the first institution in Macao to provide the COVID-19 vaccination outreach service for the SAR government.
The vaccination is carried out by the Health Bureau in the university’s Sports Complex. UM faculty and staff members, students, employees of contract service providers on campus, and family members of UM staff with a valid Macao Resident Identity Card, can receive the two vaccines free of charge. The inactivated vaccine (produced by Sinopharm (Beijing) will be administered on the first two days, and the mRNA vaccine (produced by BioNTech) will be administered on the last day. So far, 1,700 students and staff members have made appointments for the vaccination.
Xing Guichuan, an associate professor in the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering (IAPME), was among the first to receive the vaccine today. In his view, vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect individuals and to reduce the risk of outbreaks in the community. He says: ‘The mass vaccination programme at UM is very well organised and convenient, allowing us to receive the vaccine in the comfort of our campus. Group vaccination is far better than individual vaccination because it ensures that a group of people are immunised at the same time, thus achieving herd immunity. In this state of herd immunity, even those who have not been vaccinated can get some protection.’
Ng Chi Kio, a first-year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Social Sciences, hopes to protect Macao through vaccination. He says: ‘Many students around me do not have time to get vaccinated because of classes or part-time jobs, but now that the university has launched a three-day vaccination programme, we can make appointments to get vaccinated. To me, vaccination is very important. Although Macao has done a good job in preventing the epidemic, as the epidemic subsides and more tourists enter the city, you never know if there will be another outbreak, so vaccination is of utmost importance.’
Tang Ziqing, a second-year doctoral student in the IAPME, praised the government and the university for arranging the mass vaccination. He says: ‘If there were no mass vaccination, I might not be able to go back to the mainland for the vaccination until the summer holiday because I have to do my research and teach at the same time, so it is very inconvenient for me to go to the hospital for an appointment. Now with this mass vaccination programme available at the university, I can receive the vaccination without leaving the campus. The arrangements are very well thought-out and each area is clearly listed. Every step of the process, from making an appointment to receiving the vaccine, is very quick and efficient.’
| Source: Communications Office | |
| Media Contact Information: | |
| Communications Office, University of Macau | |
| Albee Lei | Tel: (853) 8822 8004 |
| Judite Lam | Tel: (853) 8822 8022 |
| Email: | prs.media@um.edu.mo |
| UM 40th | |
| anniversary website: | 40.um.edu.mo |
| UM Website: | www.um.edu.mo |
