Experts Set To Back Giving Flu, Covid Shots Together

A government adviser on the pandemic, David Hui, said on Sunday that a proposal to give people both flu and Covid shots at the same time to boost the inoculation rate was likely to win approval from the Department of Health.

The Chinese University academic told a radio programme that the low vaccination rate, especially among elderly people, is one reason why Hong Kong isn't ready to "live with the virus".

He also noted that the antibody level of people given the Sinovac jab would likely fall and be very low after six to eight months, increasing the need for a booster shot.

Less than 70 percent of the city's population has so far received one dose of a vaccine since the inoculation programme began in February.

Hui said a panel of experts would meet on Wednesday to discuss the idea of co-administering the shots after the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance.

"The WHO has actually revealed more information and they came to the conclusion that you can actually co-administer both influenza and Covid-19 vaccines without any major problem. So you give one on one arm, the other one on the other arm," he told reporters after attending the radio programme.

"That will actually make it more convenient to the patients. I think that will actually increase the vaccination rate tremendously if we can do that."

The meeting will also discuss giving a booster shot to people, Hui said, adding that the WHO had said people aged 60 or above who had received the Sinovac jab would need a third shot.

The expert said the booster could either be a Sinovac dose or a different vaccine, while those who received the BioNTech jab can stick with the same manufacturer. But in the long run, he thinks people may need to get vaccinated every year or two.

Meanwhile, another government advisor on Covid-19 vaccination, Ivan Hung, said children aged between five and 11 may soon be eligible for coronavirus jabs.

Hung said he expects experts to discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting, adding that the shots may be available within a month or two.

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