SSM adjusts Covid-19 vaccination recommendations in line with WHO

Local health authorities have amended the guidelines on Covid-19 vaccination, which commenced May 1.

Under the newly updated guidelines, the Health Bureau (SSM) adjusted the risk classification for certain people according to their age group and also recommended that those considered high-risk receive an additional dose of the bivalent Omicron variant vaccine, following the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Vaccination recommendations have also changed for pregnant women.

Under the new guidelines, people aged between six months and 17 years old who are not classified as high-risk are recommended to receive 3 doses of a vaccine against Covid-19.

For people aged between 18 months and 59 years old who are not classified high-risk, 3 doses of the vaccine is also recommended, noting that those who have completed three or four doses of the vaccine but who have not received the bivalent vaccine can be inoculated with an additional dose of the bivalent mRNA vaccine six months after receiving their last dose.

Those with risk factors and aged between 12 and 59 years, as well as all those aged 60 years or older no matter the risk level, should receive four doses of the vaccine. Even those who have already completed four doses should receive a dose of the bivalent vaccine six months after the last dose, if none of the doses were of the bivalent vaccine.

Pregnant women who have completed 16 weeks of gestation may receive, according to their age, an additional dose of the bivalent mRNA vaccine six months after administration of the last dose.

The SSM said that high-risk groups are more likely to develop serious illnesses and complications after infection with the new coronavirus, including the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and frontline health professionals, among others.

The SSM also said that even those who have already contracted the virus should follow these recommendations and receive doses of the vaccination three months after their last positive nucleic acid or rapid antigen test.