Vaccinations continue to dominate the news, with the government gearing up for the roll-out of booster shots for target groups. Separately, millions of surplus AstraZeneca jabs are to be donated overseas to places that are still struggling to secure sufficient supply. They are the latest necessary and appropriate adjustments in the city’s Covid-19 strategy as the worst pandemic of our times drags on. As officials say, the necessity of the third shot for some people is just a matter of time. It was not considered a priority earlier as the target was to administer the two doses needed to achieve the so-called herd immunity against the coronavirus. Studies have shown that protection against infection has seemingly weakened over time, especially in relation to Sinovac, one of the two vaccines used here. The case for reinforcement has been further strengthened after a World Health Organization group of experts formally recommended an extra shot for two categories of recipients – the severely immunocompromised people inoculated with vaccines authorised by the body; and those aged 60 and above who are immunised with Sinovac and Sinopharm doses. Booster Covid-19 shots ‘can proceed without Hong Kong efficacy data’ Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she would soon ask government advisers and the health authorities to assess when to launch the supplementary jab. There are suggestions that those who received the Chinese vaccines should perhaps consider getting a BioNTech jab to enhance protection. It is good to hear there will still be sufficient supply regardless of the ultimate choice of the third jab. With a total of 15 million shots of Sinovac and BioNTech vaccine available, the donation of the 7.5 million doses of AstraZeneca procured, but put on hold in the wake of the earlier blood clotting scare, is a sensible step to reduce wastage. The move may seem like a drop in the ocean when the Covax Facility, the global vaccine-sharing programme, is still struggling to help more than 90 low-income economies where only around 20 per cent of the population have taken the first shot. But given our surplus and relatively stable epidemic, it is only fair for the city to contribute to the global battle against the pandemic. Similarly, the booster jab is also a necessary step in due course to bring the world back to normality.