Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long said yesterday that “there is no doubt” that the administration of a fifth COVID-19 jab will be needed in Macau.
Lo made the remarks when replying to an oral interpellation by indirectly-elected lawmaker-cum-unionist Lam Lon Wai during a plenary session in the legislature’s hemicycle.
In his interpellation, Lam asked whether people in Macau would need to receive a COVID-19 jab regularly in the long term. Lam is one of the two vice principals of Lou Hau High School, which is run by the Macau Federation of Trade Unions, (commonly known as Gung Luen), of which he is a vice-chairman.
Lo also said that the Health Bureau is currently collecting and studying the latest research findings and COVID-19 vaccination practices in various places worldwide, such as the required interval between the fourth and fifth dose.
Nevertheless, Lo was quick to note that Macau had been hit by widespread “natural” COVID-19 infections for a period of time – which came after the local government abandoned its long-running dynamic zero-COVID approach in early December, because of which, he said, the local government would still need to monitor Macau’s COVID-19 situation for some time in the near future before deciding whether to roll out the fifth COVID-19 jab.
The health chief underlined that the local government will make an announcement once it has come up with a decision on the matter.
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, i.e., requiring two jabs to develop basic full immunity.
Jabs for different age groups
Currently, the Health Bureau advises those aged 18 or over to receive a total of four COVID-19 jabs, comprising the first two jabs that provide basic full immunity and two booster shots.
The Health Bureau currently advises those aged between 5 and 17 to receive three BioNTech mRNA jabs, comprising the first two jabs providing basic full immunity and a booster shot. Those in this age group whose parents choose the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine for them can receive the first two jabs that provide basic full immunity, and if the booster jab is wanted, they can only choose the BioNTech mRNA vaccine.
Currently, potential BioNTech mRNA vaccinees aged between six months and four years require three jabs, instead of two, to develop basic full immunity. Those in this age group are currently not covered by the Health Bureau’s COVID-19 booster vaccination programme.
Potential Sinopharm vaccinees aged between three and four years can also receive the first two jabs that provide basic full immunity. Currently, the Sinopharm vaccine is only administered to those aged three years or over.
Currently, the Health Bureau advises that regardless of their COVID-19 infection history, everyone should receive the same number of COVID-19 jabs depending on their respective age groups.
During yesterday’s plenary session, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U reaffirmed that the Macau government will constantly adjust its COVID-19 vaccination practices after referencing the respective practices in various places worldwide.
Ao Ieong also reminded that those who have been infected with the novel coronavirus should wait at least three months before getting a COVID-19 jab. More specifically, they should only get their jab at least three months after their last COVID-19 positive result, either in a nucleic acid test (NAT) or a rapid antigen test (RAT, aka self-test).
COVID-19 death toll remains at 121
Meanwhile, just one new patient diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease was admitted to the Health Bureau’s isolation and treatment facilities on Wednesday, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced yesterday.
According to the Health Bureau’s COVID-19 website, which was updated yesterday, Macau’s official cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 3,506, of which 3,374 had meanwhile been cured.
Macau’s official COVID-19 death toll has remained unchanged at 121 as no fatalities were recorded on Wednesday. Macau had not recorded any COVID-19 fatalities for six consecutive days, from Friday to Wednesday, after one fatality was reported on Thursday last week.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long addresses yesterday’s plenary session in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle. – Photo courtesy of TDM
