BioNTech vaccine for toddlers could be available next month

The government announced on Tuesday night that the children-applied BioNTech vaccine may be available next month, as awaiting the government’s approval.

Lau Yu-lung, one of the government advisers and the chair professor of the University of Hong Kong’s pediatrics confirmed the government's advisory panel is scrutinizing the formula of the BioNTech vaccine for children aged between six months and five years after receiving the application for use from the manufacturer.

The introduction of the BioNTech children vaccine will provide Hong Kong parents with another option to get their kids inoculated with a vaccine besides the former approved Sinovac children vaccine, which shares the same doses and composition as the version for adults.

“Children between six months and five will also be asked to be triple-vaccinated,” said Lau in a radio program, “the interval between the first and second shot should be two months while the third dose needs to be received after three months of the second one.”

Hong Kong lowered the age limit for receiving Sinovac vaccines to six months last month, as several infected cases involving toddlers were recorded.

“It is proved that both kinds of vaccines can contribute to reducing the risk of death and appearing critical symptoms,” Lau added, claiming it is of significance for parents to get their children jabbed.
×