The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (JSC) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, joined by the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel (EAP) today (January 17) published an update of the consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children in Hong Kong. The JSC-EAP has no objection on allowing the use of CoronaVac vaccine (CoronaVac) in children aged five to 11 and the use of a fractional dose of the Comirnaty vaccine (Comirnaty) for adults in children of that age group.
      
     The JSC-EAP recently revisited and updated the interim recommendations related to the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children, in view of the situation of the Omicron variant with evidence of transmission in the Hong Kong community.
      
     The JSC-EAP has no objection on allowing the use of CoronaVac and the use of a fractional dose (i.e. one-third of a dose) of the Comirnaty for adults in children five to 11 years of age. The experts opined that while both vaccines are expected to lower the risk of severe disease and death, Comirnaty may provide additional protection against Omicron infection; and both vaccines should be rolled out at the same time to provide real choice. The recommendation on dosing interval between the two doses of CoronaVac was 28 days and that for the fractional dose of the Comirnaty for adults was at least 12 weeks apart (i.e. both following relevant recommendations for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years). Children are also recommended to receive the Comirnaty intramuscularly at anterolateral aspect of mid-thigh, although their preference for an injection at upper arm would be respected.
      
     Meanwhile, the updated consensus interim recommendations has highlighted the urgency of inoculating adults aged 60 or above, particularly those in residential care homes for the elderly. They should take priority over children vaccination in the aged five to eleven group.
      
     Details of the interim recommendations are available at the CHP's website www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24008.html.

Ends/Monday, January 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:22

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