Public urged to receive COVID-19 vaccination in a timely manner as disease becomes endemic in Hong Kong
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 2) reminded the public that COVID-19 has become an endemic disease in Hong Kong, with its activity levels fluctuating. Individuals should follow expert recommendations and receive their initial doses or booster doses in a timely manner, based on their personal risk factors and the time when they received their last dose, in order to minimise the risk of severe disease and death. The shelf life of the vaccines provided under the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is going to expire. A new batch of vaccines will arrive in Hong Kong successively in the fourth quarter of 2026. During this transition period, eligible individuals will not be able to receive free COVID-19 vaccines through the Programme for a short period. Those in need are advised to make appointments as early as possible.
Currently, the LP.8.1 vaccine provided under the Programme for children and adults will expire in mid-July and early September this year respectively. Existing vaccination services will continue until the following dates:
* Individuals aged 6 months to 11 years: Vaccination services will be available until July 10, 2026.
* Individuals aged 12 or above: Vaccination services will be available until September 5, 2026.
"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. These are related to changes in predominant circulating variants and a decline in community herd immunity. Nearly a year has passed since the end of the last periodic upsurge of COVID-19 activity, and the CHP does not rule out the possibility that the overall COVID-19 activity may increase. Late last year, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (JSC) under the CHP updated their consensus recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines.Given that the Government's supply of COVID-19 vaccines will be temporarily suspended for a short period, I urge eligible individuals who require the vaccine to book an appointment as soon as possible and complete their vaccination before the aforementioned dates. Vaccination services under the Programme will resume in an orderly manner in the fourth quarter this year. Details will be announced in due course," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
According to the JSC's latest recommendations, children aged 6 months to 4 years without prior COVID-19 infection should receivetwo doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for completion of initial doses, with an interval of at least 28 days between doses. To ensure completion of vaccination before vaccine expiry, children who require the vaccine are encouraged to receive the first dose on or before June 12, 2026. Children aged 5 years or above (regardless of history of infection) and children aged 6 months to 4 years with prior COVID-19 infection require only one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for completion of the initial dose.
Priority groups include residents of residential care homes for the elderly; elderly personsaged 65 years or above who are living in the community; persons aged 50 to 64 years with underlying comorbidities; persons with immunocompromising conditions aged 6 months or above; pregnant women; and healthcare workers. A booster dose is recommended to be given at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously.
Eligible individuals may schedule an appointment via the Government's online booking platform to receive COVID-19 vaccination from Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations, designated clinics under the DH or the Hospital Authority. For details, please refer to the webpage.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP), Photo source: reference image
