COVID-19 Vaccination Program Updates: New Booster and LP.8.1 Vaccine Available from March 1

Latest COVID-19 vaccination arrangements announced

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (February 24) that starting from March 1, the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will administer booster to eligible persons according to the updated recommendations for high-risk priority groups. Additionally, from the same date, the Government will offer LP.8.1 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (LP.8.1 vaccine) to eligible persons aged 12 or above, replacing the JN.1 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (JN.1 vaccine) currently in use. The CHP urged members of the public who have not completed the initial dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) to get vaccinated promptly. Those at high risk should receive a booster dose as soon as possible to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection.

High-risk priority groups

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The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (JSC) under the CHP earlier discussed and updated the booster vaccination recommendation for high-risk priority groups in 2026. Starting from March 1, the Government will offer COVID-19 vaccine to relevant high-risk priority groups based on the recommendations, including:

residents of residential care homes for the elderly;

elderly persons aged 65 years or above who are living in the community;

persons aged 50 to 64 years with underlying comorbidities;

persons with immunocompromising conditions aged sixmonths or above; and

pregnant women.

In addition, the JSC encouraged healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for their personal protection. Hence, the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will continue to provide free COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers.

Those who do not belong to the high-risk priority groups recommended for booster vaccination (such as individuals aged 18 to 49 with chronic illnesses and healthy individuals aged 50 to 64) and would like to receive a booster dose may consult their family doctor about registered COVID-19 vaccines available in the private market, and consider to receive vaccination at their own expense for personal protection.

Choice of COVID-19 vaccine

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In light of the JSC's earlier recommendation to choose either the JN.1 vaccine or the LP.8.1 vaccine, the Government has provided LP.8.1 vaccines to infants and children aged six months to 11 years since December last year. The Government has now procured Spikevax LP.8.1 vaccines for individuals aged 12 and above, and vaccinations for eligible individuals will begin on March 1. The Government will continue to help elderly people aged 60 or above living in the community make online appointments for COVID-19 vaccination. More information can be found in an earlierpress release.

Potential upsurge in COVID-19 activity is expected in coming months

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Although COVID-19 activity currently remains at a low level, there are generally periodic upsurges in the COVID-19 activity level approximately every six to nine months. As it has been over seven months since the end of last periodic upsurge of COVID-19 activity, there may be another periodic upsurge in Hong Kong in the next few months. Members of the public should receive a COVID-19 vaccine in a timely manner to reduce the risk of serious illness and death due to COVID-19. Under the current Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, individuals aged six months or above are eligible for free initial vaccine doses. Priority groups can receive booster doses for free at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously.

When members of the public receive the COVID-19 vaccine, if they have not yet received the seasonal influenza vaccine, they can check with vaccination venues for arrangements for influenza vaccination. According to scientific evidence, COVID-19 vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccines can be administered at the same time to provide dual protection.

Members of the public may visit the CHP'sCOVID-19 Vaccination ProgrammeandSeasonal Influenza Vaccinationwebpage for more details.

Source: AI-found images

Speech by CE at 13th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards 2025

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the 13th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards 2025 today (February 24):

Mr Joe Tsai (Chairman of the South China Morning Post (SCMP)), Ms Nikki Ng (Non-Executive Director of the Sino Group), Mr Paulo Pong (Chairperson of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards Judging Panel), Ms Tammy Tam (Publisher of the SCMP), Spirit of Hong Kong Awards judges and nominators, awardees and finalists, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. We are gathered here, once again, for the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, now in its 13th edition.

On this evening, we honour remarkable individuals who live among us. They are ordinary people who, through their selfless and sometimes painstaking efforts, their optimism and firm determination, and their innovation and compassionate leadership, make an extraordinary difference for Hong Kong, our home. For all of us.

We call them "unsung heroes". But tonight, we are here to sing their praises, to thank them for their beautiful and boundless spirit – the guiding spirit of Hong Kong.

The Spirit of Hong Kong winners and finalists will be announced this evening, and from 10 categories. They range from the spirit of community and culture, to that of innovation and entrepreneurship; from perseverance to teamwork, youth and the Lion Rock People's Choice Award, chosen by the people of Hong Kong.

Our nominees and winners tonight are role models for Hong Kong – for each and every one of us, young and old. I am very grateful for your dedication to our community. We are immensely proud of you, as we are of Hong Kong. Our city. Our home.

And, as we put a deserving spotlight, tonight, on this inspiring group of Hong Kong people, it is also heartening to know that the Hong Kong community, as a whole, is united and committed to helping their fellow citizens in need, to contributing to the collective good of Hong Kong.

The spirit of mutual support, I'm glad to note, can be seen everywhere in Hong Kong. When our elderly feel lonely, scores of volunteers would deliver warm meals to them and offer companionship. When our young feel fragile, different NGOs would take them under their wing and nurse them to recovery. When our athletes compete on the world stage, the people of Hong Kong would stay up late just to cheer them on, supporting them no matter what the results will be.

Such is the quiet, persistent strength of Hong Kong - a community that uplifts one another not because it is asked, but because it is who we are. This is important to note because, after all, heroism takes many forms. And central to it, central to the spirit of Hong Kong, is dedication, resilience, empathy and, above all, unity.

My thanks to the organisers of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, the South China Morning Post and the Sino Group. My thanks, too, to the Awards' panel of judges, who come from a variety of professions and backgrounds.

Ladies and gentlemen, this special evening is about more than celebration. It is also about gratitude and renewal. It is about drawing strength from those who have given so much to society, and committing ourselves to carry forward the spirit they embody.

And I wish to join you here to welcome the Year of the Horse, let's stride along with renewed purpose, and the enduring spirit of Hong Kong.

Enjoy the evening. Thank you very much.

Source: AI-found images