The Macau government said yesterday that it expects 10,000 doses of BioNTech mRNA vaccine specifically for children aged between five and 11 to be delivered to Macau early next quarter at the earliest.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Health Bureau (SSM), made the remarks during yesterday’s regular press conference by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre.
Currently, Germany’s BioNTech mRNA jabs are administered to those aged 12 or over in Macau, while the other type of COVID-19 vaccine currently available in the city, China’s Sinopharm inactivated vaccine, is used for those aged three or over.
Children aged between three and 11 in Macau have been covered by the government’s COVID-19 vaccination programme since late November when it lowered the minimum age for Sinopharm jabs from 12 to 3.
The Macau Health Bureau revealed two weeks ago that it had ordered mRNA COVID-19 vaccines specifically for children aged between 5 and 11 from the manufacturer.
During yesterday’s press conference, Leong said that the Macau Health Bureau has ordered 10,000 doses of BioNTech mRNA vaccine specifically for children aged between five and 11 from the supplier. The Health Bureau, Leong said, received “good” news on Wednesday from the supplier, which said that the doses are expected to be delivered to Macau early next quarter at the earliest.
Leong said that the new BioNTech mRNA vaccine specifically for children aged between five and 11 will enable parents to have one more choice for their children’s COVID-19 inoculations.
As with the general one for those aged 12 or over, the new BioNTech mRNA vaccine for children aged between 5 and 11 also requires two jabs for them to develop basic full immunity, Leong noted.
Jab rates amongst different ages
Meanwhile, Leong noted that Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate reached 80.3 percent yesterday, i.e., four fifths of the population had received at least one jab.
According to the latest available demographics, Macau’s population stood at 683,200 at the end of last year.
Leong reported Macau’s latest COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst different age groups based on last year’s demographics. As of yesterday afternoon, according to Leong, the vaccination rates amongst difference age groups were: 27 percent amongst those aged from three to 11; 69.7 percent amongst those aged between 12 and 19; 94 percent amongst those aged from 20 to 29; 99.9 percent amongst those aged between 30 and 39; 99.9 percent amongst those aged from 40 to 49; and 91.1 percent amongst those aged between 50 and 59.
According to Leong, as of yesterday afternoon the COVID-19 vaccination rate amongst senior citizens stood at 71 percent amongst those aged between 60 and 69; 58.1 percent amongst those aged from 70 to 79; and 30.6 percent amongst those aged 80 or over.
As the official demographics for last year were released on Monday, Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst different age groups reported during last week’s regular press conference were still based on the city’s demographics for 2020. Consequently, the latest jab rates amongst certain age groups reported by Leong yesterday were smaller than those reported last week due to the changes in the age structures of Macau’s population between 2020 and last year.
Leong said yesterday that Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate has increased relatively faster over recent weeks primarily thanks to a significant increase in the jab rates amongst children and senior citizens during the period.
44 pct of eligible individuals receive booster jabs
Leong also said that around 310,000 people in Macau are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster jab, but only 44 percent of them, or around 137,000, have already received it.
Macau’s COVID-19 booster vaccination programme covers all those aged 18 or over who have been fully (twice) inoculated with COVID-19 inactivated vaccines or mRNA vaccines at least six months ago.
Both types of COVID-19 vaccines currently available in Macau, China’s Sinopharm inactivated vaccine and Germany’s BioNTech mRNA vaccine, are two-dose vaccines.
Leong yesterday urged eligible individuals to receive a COVID-19 booster jab as soon as possible. Leong noted that the antibody levels of those who have received two COVID-19 jabs will gradually drop as time passes, because of which their immunity to COVID-19 infection or ability to prevent themselves from suffering a serious condition or dying from the novel coronavirus disease will decline. Leong said that a booster jab is able to significantly raise the COVID-19 antibody levels in a short time.
Leong also said that for the time being the Macau government does not plan to shorten the current six-month interval between the administration of the second COVID-19 jab and the third one.
Leong said that while Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate has now reached around 80 percent, the city’s immunity barrier against COVID-19 is still not strong enough as the jab rates amongst senior citizens and those with chronic diseases are still not high enough, apart from the fact that a certain percentage of young people have still not received a COVID-19 booster jab.
Children accompanied by their parents queue to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Macau Forum inoculation facility in Zape last week. Photo: DSEDJ
