Coronavirus: Hong Kong to start offering Covid-19 booster shots to the elderly, high-risk groups from November 11
- Elderly and vulnerable will be the first to receive third doses of coronavirus vaccine in Hong Kong, with bookings opening this Friday
- Government estimates 1.86 million will have priority access to booster shots
Those who have received China’s Sinovac vaccine do not have to be in the vulnerable or high-risk category to be eligible for a third dose, although their cases will be handled on a discretionary basis by on-site staff.
While BioNTech recipients who do not fall in the high-risk category are not eligible for a third dose for now, the German-made vaccine is the booster shot recommended for everyone because it “may elicit a better immune response”.
Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee on Wednesday announced next week’s launch of the booster shots programme, estimating that 1.86 million people would be eligible for priority access, with the government fully adopting an expert panel’s recent recommendations.
01:44
China reports record 93 coronavirus cases in single day amid Delta outbreak
“The joint scientific committee has already said people who have had two doses of Sinovac are recommended to have a third dose. Our first phase is for those high-risk groups to take it first,” Chan added.