Coronavirus: Hong Kong to open bookings for boosters next week as total infections surpass 1 million
- Reservations set to open at 8am on Monday via government online system, with fourth dose for immunocompromised people also available
- City records more than 20,000 new infections on Friday, pushing total Covid-19 tally to 1,016,944 since the pandemic began
Bookings for Covid-19 boosters will open to adult Hongkongers from Monday with the time interval from the second jab shortened to three months, while a fourth vaccine dose will be available for immunocompromised people aged 12 or above who had their third shot at least 90 days ago.
More than 20,000 new infections were reported on Friday, as the city reached a grim milestone of recording over 1 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
Government medical experts had previously shortened the recommended interval between the second and third doses of individuals aged 18 to 59 from 180 days to 90 days in February. They also “strongly recommended” the fourth dose to immunocompromised people aged 12 or above.
The government online booking system will be ready from 8am on Monday to receive these reservations, which are applicable to both BioNTech and Sinovac vaccines available in the city.
“The current epidemic situation is of grave concern. Both Covid-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are safe and highly effective in protecting against severe illness and infection,” a government spokesman said on Friday.
“We appeal to members of the public who are not yet vaccinated, especially the elderly, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a much higher fatality risk after Covid-19 infection, to get vaccinated as early as possible for the sake of their health.”
As of Friday evening, 91.4 per cent, or 6.16 million Hong Kong residents, had been inoculated with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Of Friday’s 20,082 new cases, 7,966 of them were detected through PCR tests, while 12,116 were reported by residents who took their own rapid antigen tests. The latest cases pushed the city’s tally of confirmed infections to 1,016,944 since the pandemic began.