Macao’s Covid-19 vaccination rate reached 69.5 per cent yesterday – i.e., nearly 70 per cent of the population had received at least one jab, according to the latest official statistics.
According to the Health Bureau (SSM), as of 4 pm yesterday, 859,791 doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been administered to 474,462 people in Macao, comprising 82,591 who had only received their first jab, 390,304 who had received their second jab, and 1,567 who had received their third jab.
Macao started administering Covid-19 vaccine booster jabs on Tuesday last week to those who were fully inoculated against the novel coronavirus at least six months ago.
Except immunocompromised individuals (such as cancer patients who are receiving radiotherapy, those who have had an organ transplant, and those with HIV/AIDS), all other eligible vaccinees will receive a third Covid-19 vaccine dose as their booster jabs.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised will be first given a third primary dose at least 28 days after having their second Covid-19 jab, before receiving a fourth dose as their booster shots at least six months afterwards.
The SSM said last month that the city’s Covid-19 inoculation rate of the target group – i.e., those aged 12 or over – is calculated based on Macao’s population aged 12 or over which stood at 607,000 at the end of last year.
According to yesterday’s statistics by the SSM about Covid-19 vaccinations, Macao’s Covid-19 inoculation rate of the target group had reached 78.2 per cent as of 4 pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has reminded employers in the private sector that employees who have received one jab of a single-dose Covid-19 vaccine are officially regarded by the local authorities as having been fully inoculated against the novel coronavirus.
The SSM published new Covid-19 and NAT guidelines on 13 September which required all individuals regardless of whether working in the public or the private sectors, to be tested for Covid-19 once every week, or even more frequently, if they have not been inoculated against the novel coronavirus.
The jab-or-test measure already started for public servants, those working in social service facilities, and the education sector last month. Certain major companies and organisations in the private sector have reportedly also already started the jab-or-test measure for their staff.
Some people in Macao have been vaccinated against Covid-19 elsewhere instead of in Macao. In general, their Covid-19 vaccination records are officially recognised in Macao. The statement noted that many of the Covid-19 vaccines that are being used worldwide are two-dose vaccines, meaning that those who have received their second jab at least 14 days prior are regarded as having been fully inoculated against Covid-19.
