Coronavirus: expert panel advises third shot for Hongkongers who took Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine

But priority should be given to elderly, people with weak immunity and workers with high exposure to virus, joint scientific committee says

Among BioNTech recipients, only those in high-risk group should get booster shots for now, it says

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So far 4.6 million people, or 68.3 per cent of the eligible population, have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine in Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 9:00pm, 27 Oct 2021Updated: 1:41pm, 28 Oct 2021

Everyone who has received two doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine should get a booster shot against Covid-19, experts advising Hong Kong’s government have recommended, with priority given to the elderly, those with weak immunity and workers with high exposure to the disease.

The Centre for Health Protection’s joint scientific committee issued the advice on a third dose to protect against the coronavirus, but did not give a time frame, after a meeting on Wednesday.

“For those receiving CoronaVac ... we recommend the entire population get the third dose in the future,” said the centre’s controller Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, referring to the trade name of the vaccine made by Sinovac.

BioNTech shots are administered at Choi Hung Road Badminton Centre. Photo: Edmond So

Tsui said the immunocompromised and people aged 60 or above should receive the booster shots first.

The committee also recommended that only high-risk groups among those who had taken the German-made BioNTech vaccine, the other one being offered in the city, should take the booster shot for now.

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