Children in Hong Kong aged as young as six months old can receive the Sinovac jab against Covid-19. Parents can make online bookings for their children to get vaccinated from August 4. Children in this age group can get three doses of a Sinovac shot according to the same schedule as older children.
The government made the announcement on Tuesday, a day after an expert panel recommended that children as young as six months old can receive Sinovac and BioNTech. Currently, children aged three years old and above can receive Sinovac in Hong Kong.
However, the minimum age limit to receive a BioNTech shot remained unchanged at five years old, although health experts said that children can receive a diluted dosage of this vaccine, which is equivalent to one-tenth of the one given to adults. According to an official press release, “The Government is negotiating with the relevant drug manufacturer on the procurement of the designated paediatric formulation.”
This development means that Hong Kong is the first city in Asia to approve vaccinating children as young as six months old against the virus. The United States became the first country in the world to do so in June this year, followed by Israel in July.
Children must be accompanied by their parents to vaccination centres and bring original birth certificates and a consent form signed by their parents with them. Parents can make appointments for children aged between six months old and three years old to get vaccinated at the following Community Vaccination Centres:
- Java Road Sports Centre, North Point
- Kwun Chung Sports Centre, Jordan
- Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre, Sha Tin
- Millennium City 5, Kwun Tong
- Hong Kong Spinners Industrial Building, Cheung Sha Wan
Sinovac vaccinations for this age group will also be administered at designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority or by more than 1,000 private doctors or clinics that are part of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
In addition, authorities stated that Hong Kong residents aged 50 and over can receive their fourth Covid-19 vaccination at least three months after they got their third dose.
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