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Government Announces Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Arrangements Amid Rising Cases in Hong Kong

HK

Government Announces Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Arrangements Amid Rising Cases in Hong Kong
HK

HK

Government Announces Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Arrangements Amid Rising Cases in Hong Kong

2024-08-08 19:58 Last Updated At:08-09 08:44

Latest COVID-19 vaccination arrangements announced

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (August 8) that the risk posed by COVID-19 still exists, and the COVID-19 activity in Hong Kong and neighbouring places has continued to increase. In view of the COVID-19 situation, the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the opinions of local experts, the Government today announced updated COVID-19 vaccination arrangements under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. The Government reminded members of the public to continue maintaining personal, hand and environmental hygiene, and reiterated that vaccination can effectively prevent serious cases.

The CHP pointed out that COVID-19 presents with rising waves roughly every four to six months in Hong Kong, and the latest overall activity has continued to increase since June. According to the latest surveillance data as of August 3, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for COVID-19 received by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch rose to about 9.07 per cent, and the per capita viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance had been over 400,000 copy/L for two consecutive weeks. The CHP expected that the local activity of COVID-19 may further increase. High-risk priority groups should get vaccinated as soon as possible and receive booster doses at appropriate times.

Arrangements for initial vaccination and booster vaccination in 2024/25

As the vast majority of the publichad past COVID-19 infection, the arrangements for initial vaccination will be simplified, while the prevailing arrangements for booster vaccination will remain applicable. Eligible persons can continue to receive initial vaccination or booster vaccination for free. Relevant details are as follows:

1. Arrangements for initial vaccination starting from August 19

2. Arrangements for booster vaccination in 2024/25

Starting from 9am on August 19, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme booking system (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp)will accept bookings according to the updated vaccination arrangements. Eligible persons can make reservations through the online booking system for vaccinations at the COVID-19 vaccination venues. Persons who have made bookings before August 19 to receive initial vaccination can still receive COVID-19 vaccination according to the appointment date without being affected by the updated arrangements. The Government will continue to assist elderly people aged 60 or above living in the community to make COVID-19 vaccination bookingsonline, and the relevant arrangements are set out in an earlier press release. ​Details of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme can be found on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html).

Supply of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines to be ceased

The existing inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong (i.e. Sinovac CoronaVac) will expire on October 3, 2024, and the vaccine supplier had confirmed that they will no longer produce the vaccines. Members of the public should take note and make a booking as soon as possible if they plan to receive vaccination with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. Those who have never received COVID-19 vaccination and prefer to receive inactivated COVID-19 vaccines should receive their first dose within August this year to allow enough time (an interval of at least 28 days) before the second dose. Members of the public who have received inactivated vaccines before may choose mRNA vaccine to complete their initial vaccination or as booster.

Procurement of JN.1 lineage COVID-19 vaccines

In light of the earlier recommendation by the WHO and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP to use JN.1 lineage COVID-19 vaccines, the Government is exploring with the vaccine suppliers on the procurement of relevant vaccines, which are expected to be supplied for use in Hong Kong by the end of this year. The vaccination arrangements will be announced later.

The CHP strongly urges members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and chronic disease patients, to receive vaccinations as early as possible for effective protection against COVID-19. Personal, hand and environmental hygiene should also be maintained at all times against respiratory tract infection including COVID-19. Symptomatic individuals, even if the symptoms are mild, should wear surgical masks and seek medical attention promptly to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to high-risk persons.

Source: AI-generated images

Source: AI-generated images

Remarks by FS at media session (with photo/video)

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, together with the Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Julia Leung, and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Eddie Yue, met the media this evening (April 7). Following are Mr Chan's remarks at the media session:

Reporter: What tools does the Government have to handle the situation of the market and will Hong Kong consider a national team investor equivalent to intervene? Should the markets keep dropping, what is the bottom line for the state of the market before countermeasures will be considered?

Financial Secretary: I think Julia has explained very clearly the situation in the Hong Kong stock market. Basically, the market has been functioning orderly. There are substantial selling but also buying interests. The spread between the two has been very tight, indicating that the buying power remains very strong.

Hong Kong is a free port, and we encourage capital and investors from different parts of the world to take part in our capital market. Over the years, we have been taking a number of measures to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of our capital market, no matter whether it is improving the listing regime, lowering the transaction costs, expanding the markets, attracting investors and capital from around the world, or offering new products such as the ETF (exchange-traded fund) listed on the Saudi stock exchange (and investing in the Hong Kong stock market). All in all, we will persistently and consistently push forward initiatives on various fronts. With an expanding market and more participants from different parts of the world, the liquidity and resilience of our market will be enhanced. The resilience of our market has been very strong. We do not think the current volatility in the market warrants the taking of any drastic measures.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Remarks by FS at media session (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Remarks by FS at media session (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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