Hong Kong expands coronavirus vaccination programme to those aged under 30; BioNTech shots to close in September
- Minister warns deadline for BioNTech jabs is just a few months away, with first doses required by end of August before centres close the following month
- Hong Kong officials confirm six coronavirus infections, of which two are locally transmitted and the rest imported
Hong Kong will allow those aged under 30 to start booking their Covid-19 jabs next week in an expansion of the city’s vaccination programme, the government has announced.
Top officials on Thursday also revealed Hong Kong would not be acquiring a third type of vaccine this year, as they urged residents with a preference for the BioNTech version to get their first shot by the end of August, before the closure of the city’s 29 community vaccination centres in late September.
The announcement of the scheme’s expansion came as the city confirmed six new coronavirus cases. Of the two locally transmitted infections, one was untraceable. The rest were imported from France, India, Italy and the Philippines.
Under the expanded programme, residents aged 16 or above would be able to receive the German-made BioNTech doses, while those older than 18 could opt for the mainland China-produced Sinovac vaccine, civil service chief Patrick Nip Tak-kuen told a press conference.
“We have received feedback from different people hoping the government includes young people aged 30 or younger [into the scheme],” said Nip, who oversees the city’s vaccination programme.
“If some of their family members could not be vaccinated due to physical conditions such as chronic diseases that have not come under control, vaccinated younger members could build a protection net to protect older and weaker people.”
Opening up the Covid-19 vaccinations scheme to the 1.08 million Hong Kong residents aged between 16 and 29 takes the total number of people eligible in the city to 6.5 million, amounting to 88 per cent of its population.
Currently, only those aged 30 and above are allowed to receive a jab through the scheme, although younger people can if they belong to groups such as health care workers, teachers and restaurant staff.