Coronavirus: Hong Kong vaccine experts do not rule out fourth jab for some residents
- Professor David Hui says fourth booster shot may be needed for those who had earlier taken Sinovac jab, as antibody levels may be lower
- Professor Wallace Lau raises idea of annual jabs, also citing waning antibodies
Hong Kong government vaccine experts have said they do not rule out the possibility of a fourth Covid-19 jab for residents, with the city rolling out third shots under its booster programme next week.
The idea, raised by Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a government pandemic adviser, came on the heels of official advice issued by the Macau government last week, indicating that the third dose should be given at least 28 days after the second shot, while the fourth should come six months following the third jab.
Authorities of the casino hub also said the extra shots should cover immunocompromised people aged 12 or above.
Hong Kong will start offering booster shots to the elderly and those under high-risk groups from next Thursday. Those who have received the Chinese-produced Sinovac vaccine can also get a third jab even if they are not in the vulnerable category, although such cases will be handled on a discretionary basis by on-site staff.
On Saturday, Hui said the amount of antibodies in a person vaccinated with the Sinovac shot could drop to a low level six to eight months after their second jab. But this could be boosted to 97 per cent from about 30 per cent if they opt for the German-made BioNTech jab as their third dose, compared with 58 per cent for another Sinovac shot, according to the expert.