The BioNTech bivalent vaccine will be available by the end of November at the earliest, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong confirmed today.
"The bivalent vaccine will be effective against virus variants of Omicron BA.4 and 5," said SHPSK's president William Chui Chun-ming. He added that the government could provide a booster jab of the bivalent vaccine for certain groups of cross-protection, including people aged 18 or above, people with chronic diseases, and people of high-risk groups like healthcare workers and the elderly.
"It is also advised that the government consider introducing the bivalent vaccine of Sinova for multiple options," Chui added.
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel had earlier recommended that the Comirnaty Omicron BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose of the current ancestral strain vaccines.
"It is also advised that the government consider introducing the bivalent vaccine of Sinova for multiple options," Chui added.
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel had earlier recommended that the Comirnaty Omicron BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose of the current ancestral strain vaccines.