The Health Bureau (SSM) has ordered mRNA Covid-19 vaccines specifically for children from the manufacturer, but their delivery date is still not confirmed, according to Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division.
Two types of Covid-19 vaccines are currently available in Macao, China’s Sinopharm inactivated vaccine and Germany’s BioNTech mRNA vaccine.
Currently, Sinopharm jabs are administered to those aged three or over in Macao, while BioNTech shots are given to those aged 12 or over.
Children aged between 3 and 11 in Macao 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 SSM first revealed last month that it was discussing the possible purchase of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines specifically for children with the manufacturer.
Leong said that the SSM has also set up a working group to study the feasibility of “diluting” mRNA doses used for over-12s so that the mRNA vaccine can be administered to those aged between 3 and 11 in Macao.
In Hong Kong, children aged between 5 and 11 are given one-third of a dose of BioNTech mRNA vaccine used for those aged 12 or over, The Macau Post Daily reported.
