Govt Urged To Let BioNTech Recipients Have Boosters

Respiratory medicine expert Leung Chi-chiu on Friday called on the government to let everyone who has had BioNTech Covid jabs receive a booster.

On an RTHK programme, Leung said Hong Kong is capable of expanding its booster programme even further, to cover not only priority groups and all those who had Sinovac jabs, but also people who opted for BioNTech.

“Our vaccination centres have the capacity. And in fact, global evidence shows the efficiency of both Sinovac and BioNTech in terms of preventing infection would wear out after six months regardless of whether there are any antibodies left,” Leung said.

“Both vaccines need booster shots to extend their protection. If we want to live with the virus in future, we have to promote the third jabs as soon as possible,” he said.

“I really don’t quite understand why we give one group another vaccine but not the other.”

Bookings for booster shots for those who have had two doses of Sinovac open on November 23.

There must be a gap of at least six months between a person's second and third dose, and people can choose either vaccine for the booster.

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