Coronavirus vaccination: will extending jabs to younger Hong Kong children lead city out of tough, zero-Covid policy? Experts urge move, but parents fear long-term effects
- Paediatrician says getting younger segment of population inoculated is needed to build protection in absence of high infection rates
- Sinovac jabs will be available to children as young as five in coming week, while ‘off-label’ reduced dosage of BioNTech will be offered after Lunar New Year
Government medical advisers on Wednesday recommended that children aged five to 11 be allowed to receive BioNTech shots as soon as possible amid an outbreak of the Omicron variant, even though the vaccine’s distributor has not applied to lower the current age threshold of 12.
Health authorities have recommended that young children receive a third of the adult BioNTech dose, a practice also adopted in Britain, and considered an “off-label” move in which a drug is used in a manner not included in the product registration. Final approval rests with the city’s health minister, Sophia Chan Siu-chee.
Studies suggest the highly transmissible Omicron variant causes less severe symptoms among all age groups. Still, experts said vaccinating younger people would reduce chances of them developing severe conditions, especially for those who were chronically ill.
Hong Kong will extend the use of the Chinese-produced Sinovac vaccine to children as young as five in the coming week, nearly a year after the city started its inoculation drive.
A vaccination centre will also be designated for children receiving BioNTech jabs, with operations likely to begin after the Lunar New Year holiday in early February. Authorities aim to ultimately set up several such facilities citywide.
