Designated Centres To Vaccinate Kids With BioNTech

Civil service chief Patrick Nip on Saturday said some vaccination centres will be used for the sole purpose of vaccinating children aged between five and 11 with the BioNTech jab.

Speaking on a radio show, Nip – who is in charge of the city's inoculation programme – explained that pharmacists have to be present to prepare the jabs for children as they are recommended to get one-third of a BioNTech dose.

"I've discussed with some experts. It's safer and more clear if we designate some centres to vaccinate children only with BioNTech," he said.

He noted that the vaccination centre at Gleneagles Hospital in Wong Chuk Hang, run by the University of Hong Kong, could be the first one to be used for this purpose after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Meanwhile, the minister said children in the same age range can get vaccinated with Sinovac starting from next week.

He said they could receive the jabs at community vaccination centres and private clinics, adding that government staff would also visit schools – if they reopen after the holidays – to give students Sinovac shots.

Currently, children aged 12 or above are eligible to take either vaccines.