Covid-19 | Health authorities downplay fourth vaccine, call for booster shot
Local health authorities are not considering, for the time being, the possibility of enforcing a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, medical director of the Conde de São Januário Hospital Center and coordinator of local vaccination plan, Dr Tai Wa Hou, said on Friday during the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center press briefing.
Addressing the topic, Tai said that “for the time being, and taking into account the epidemic situation in Macau, the promotion of the fourth dose of the booster vaccine is not anticipated,” but added that local authorities “strongly encourage inoculation with the third dose of the booster vaccine.”
“There is evidence that vaccination and booster shots contribute to lowering the risk of serious illness and death from infection with Covid-19 virus variants, so the public is urged to receive the vaccines and the third booster dose as soon as possible,” Tai said.
At the same press briefing, Tai also continued to push for the vaccination of children and the elderly population, noting, “Data shows that children infected with the Omicron variant may face more severe symptoms and risks of complications, while the elderly are at greater risk of severe illness and death after infection, therefore, the elderly and children are top priorities to be vaccinated.”
Tai also reinforced his statement by making use of data to show that the “current global pandemic is still very serious.”
“Variants of the virus have infected people in many countries on a large scale and the number of new cases worldwide exceeds millions every day, totaling more than 380 million infected cases,” he said.
Data released by the same official shows that to 4 p.m. last Friday, the global vaccination rate in Macau had reached 74.5% with the largest group of vaccinated people being those aged between 20 and 60 years which is now 90%.
The vaccination rate among those aged between 70 to 79 years (44.3%) and 80 years and above (17%) is considered very low.
The lowest vaccination rate is for children aged between three and 11 years, where only 5% have been vaccinated so far.
Schools to resume classes normally after CNY
Schools are expected to resume classes after the Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays and there is no disruption expected for cross-border students or teachers, the Education and Youth Development Bureau’s (DSEDJ) deputy head of department, Cheong Chi Hin, advised at the Covid-19 press briefing.
According to Cheong, all non-tertiary and tertiary education institutions had been closed from before the CNY until last Friday.
According to the same official, there are several scenarios to be considered but “if the epidemic situation in neighboring regions is stable, schools will resume classes right after the holidays, as scheduled.” He calls on teachers and students to strictly implement the anti-epidemic measures on their return to classes.
