Coronavirus: healthy Hong Kong residents unlikely to need third vaccine jab, top adviser says

Those with weaker immune systems, however, may want to get a booster, Professor Wallace Lau says as city confirms zero Covid-19 cases on Saturday

Adviser also downplays recent revelation of higher antibody levels in BioNTech vaccine, saying mainland China-produced Sinovac jab remains highly effective

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Hongkongers queue up for Sinovac jabs in Causeway Bay. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 2:04pm, 17 Jul 2021Updated: 10:49pm, 17 Jul 2021

Most healthy Hong Kong residents can skip a third Covid-19 vaccine dose, but those with weaker immune systems may need one, according to the convenor of an advisory panel on the jabs.

Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing also maintained on Saturday that the two vaccines available in the city were both effective after a local university study found recipients of the BioNTech jab had 10 times more coronavirus antibodies than those who took Sinovac’s version.

Lau noted the volume of proteins produced might not correlate positively with the protection level.

The assurances about the jabs came on Saturday as the city confirmed zero cases for the third time this week and pushed its streak of no local infections to 40 days. The overall tally of confirmed infections remained at 11,956, with 212 related deaths.

“My opinion is that most of those normal people without any illnesses or big problems won’t need to take the third jab. Unless perhaps, a person suffers from a very serious illness and that weakens their immune system, then it can be considered,” Lau told reporters after taking part in a radio programme.

But he added a final decision on the matter was up to the Department of Health’s joint scientific committee.

Sources earlier told the Post that the committee would meet next Thursday to discuss the possibility of administering a third vaccine dose to some members of the public.