- Experts say inoculations should open up for healthy adults when the supply is adequate
- The mRNA vaccine can provide protection against the predominant variant in the city, JN.1
These jabs are currently provided to high-risk groups, such as the elderly and the immunocompromised, as a choice for initial and booster vaccination. Sam TsangHong Kong health experts have suggested that for groups that are not high-risk, their initial inoculation should be the Covid-19 vaccine targeting the XBB variant.
The specialists on Wednesday night said that when the supply of the vaccine was sufficient, its use for first inoculations should be opened up to healthy adults.
“When there is adequate supply, monovalent XBB mRNA vaccine is recommended to be extended to initial vaccination of non-high-risk priority groups who do not require booster vaccination,” the published recommendations said, a day after the experts from the Centre for Health Protection’s joint scientific committees met and updated their advice.
Citing early vaccine effectiveness studies, experts said inoculating the monovalent XBB mRNA jab could provide enhanced protection against JN.1, which has become the predominant variant in Hong Kong.
The vaccines are currently provided to high-risk priority groups, including the elderly and those with immunocompromising conditions, as a choice for initial and booster vaccination.
The experts noted that healthy adults could also opt for other available vaccines for initial and booster vaccination as those jabs were also effective in reducing fatality and severe infection.
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They also said high-risk groups should receive a booster dose at least six months after their last inoculation or Covid-19 infection to strengthen protection.
Regarding the expert’s suggestion to extend the vaccines to healthy adults, the government said it would closely monitor the supply of monovalent XBB mRNA vaccines and make suitable adjustments when appropriate.