The Health Bureau (SSM) has announced that it expects to provide BioNTech mRNA jabs targeting the Omicron XBB subvariants for those aged below 12 from next month.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the bureau’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Saturday on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of a two-day symposium jointly organised by the Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) at the former’s headquarters in Zape.
The foundation was established in Macau in 2005.
Macau’s administration of BioNTech mRNA jabs targeting XBB for those aged 12 or over started in November last year.
BioNTech is a German biotechnical company.
The new BioNTech mRNA vaccine is a monovalent vaccine (aka univalent) that only contains components for the XBB subvariants, i.e., no longer contains components for the original COVID-19 strain.
The Health Bureau started its vaccinations of the BioNTech against XBB for those aged 12 or over in two phases. The first phase started in the middle of November for high-risk individuals aged 12 or over, namely all those aged 60 or over, those aged between 12 and 59 with chronic diseases or weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and frontline health workers.
The second-phase vaccinations started on December 21 for all others aged 12 or over.
Dr Leong noted on Saturday that the Health Bureau started the administration of BioNTech mRNA monovalent XBB jabs for those aged 12 or over in November last year, adding that 30,000 to 40,000 doses are still currently available.
Dr Leong also pointed out that the Health Bureau has also purchased around 10,000 doses of the BioNTech mRNA monovalent XBB vaccine for children aged below 12, which will be delivered to Macau at the end of this month. Consequently, Dr Leong said, the Health Bureau expects to start the administration of the doses next month.
The Health Bureau recommends everyone reaching the minimum COVID-19 inoculation age, namely six months, to receive a BioNTech mRNA monovalent XBB jab, regardless of whether they have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19.
No more Sinopharm jabs
Meanwhile, Dr Leong also said that the Sinopharm inactivated jabs still in Macau have meanwhile all expired because of which the Health Bureau is now no longer providing Sinopharm vaccinations.
Dr Leong noted that the Sinopharm vaccine only contains components for the original COVID-19 strain because of which its effectiveness is low against the currently prevalent variants. In addition, Dr Leong said that the manufacturer is no longer producing the vaccine.
Consequently, Dr Leong said, the Health Bureau will no longer purchase Sinopharm jabs – even if stocks are still available from the manufacturer.
Dr Leong also said that Macau’s current incidence of influenza and COVID-19 infections is similar to the ones in the mainland and Hong Kong.
Dr Leong also underlined that the government will continue with its facemask purchase scheme for a while as many residents are still buying facemasks through the scheme, which was rolled out in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect Macau.
Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) talks to reporters at the Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation’s headquarters in Zape on Saturday.
– Photo courtesy of TDM
