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
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 earlier press 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's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination webpage for more details.
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DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 4) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.
In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:
Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.
In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:
Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.
The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.
Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:
Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
Seek shade;
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.
Source: AI-found images
