Coronavirus Vaccine

What you need to know

Coronavirus vaccine FAQs including the latest timetable for vaccine rollout and vaccine efficacy data plus news and updates on research into a vaccine to combat coronavirus which has infected tens of millions of people and led to the deaths of more than three million around the globe.

OVERVIEW
LATEST NEWS
Inside Out|How nationalism threatens a repeat of Covid-19 tragedies in next pandemic
An initially strong draft WHO treaty focusing on rapid information sharing, fair vaccine distribution and relaxing intellectual property rights appears to have been diluted. Failure to forge an agreement and put aside national differences would be a tragedy for which we will pay a terrible price, perhaps very soon.
David Dodwell
David Dodwell
Americas
Brazil’s Bolsonaro indicted over alleged falsification of own vaccination data
Police accuse Bolsonaro and his aides of tampering with the health ministry’s database shortly before he travelled to the US in December 2022.
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Europe
German with ‘comically large number’ of Covid jabs – 217 – had no side effects
Researchers, said the man voluntarily received so many shots against all medical advice, and warned against jumping to far-reaching conclusions from this single case.
Health & Environment
Non-high-risk Hongkongers should get Covid XBB variant jab as first dose: experts
Citing studies, experts say the vaccines can provide enhanced protection against JN.1, which has become predominant variant in city.
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United States & Canada
Largest Covid-19 vaccine study yet finds links to health conditions
More than 13.5 billion doses of Covid vaccines have been administered globally over the past three years. A small proportion were injured by the shots, stoking debate about their benefits versus harms.
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Health & Environment
‘Hongkongers should get Covid XBB variant jabs ahead of Lunar New Year’
Professor Ivan Hung says about 80 per cent of cases at Queen Mary Hospital’s isolation ward are related to Covid-19.
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Health & Environment
Hong Kong hotline for elderly takes more than 1,300 calls after cold spell hits
Observatory issues warning at 6am, but says temperatures in urban areas likely to fall overnight from 10 degrees to low of 7 degrees.
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Health & Environment
Hong Kong may see sharp rise in Covid cases in next 2 months, experts say
HKU health scholars also encourage residents to switch up vaccine regime, such as going from Sinovac shots to BioNTech or Moderna mRNA boosters.
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Editorial|Better to be safe than sorry on Hong Kong Covid and flu front
As city enters peak flu season with Covid-19 cases once more on the rise, now is the time to remember health lessons and get vaccinated.
SCMP Editorial
Health & Environment
Health officials expect peak winter flu season to hit Hong Kong next week
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan urges public to get vaccinated against flu, coronavirus to maximise protection against respiratory illnesses.
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World
WHO classifies JN.1 coronavirus strain as ‘variant of interest’
The strain makes up an estimated 15 per cent to 29 per cent of cases in the US, and some infections have been detected in China, though the public health risk remains low.
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Health & Environment
Hong Kong should brace for winter flu season in January: authorities
Dr Edwin Tsui expects a surge in flu cases between January and April as ‘many people may travel overseas during Christmas and attend celebrations on New Year’s Eve’.
Health & Environment
Elderly Hongkongers can apply for Covid XBB variant vaccine starting Wednesday
Elderly residents can go to community vaccination stations run by private clinics or designated general outpatient clinics under Hospital Authority.
Europe
UK Covid inquiry: ‘deeply sorry’ Sunak hopes lessons learned from pandemic
The inquiry is examining the UK’s pandemic response and has heard testimony about often chaotic scenes in the government of then-PM Boris Johnson, marked by incompetence, back-stabbing and misogyny.
Europe
Boris Johnson hits out at ‘version’ of Partygate which prompted his downfall
The former British PM said portrayals of partying in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic were ‘absolutely absurd’ as he faced a second day of questioning at a public inquiry.
Southeast Asia
Philippines’ Marcos tests positive for Covid-19
President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has cancelled events on Tuesday, including a visit to Mindanao to attend to victims of a bombing on Sunday and people displaced from strong earthquakes since late Saturday.
Health & Environment
Hong Kong receives first batch of Covid XBB variant vaccines
Vaccination arrangements for the 100,000-jab batch manufactured by US drug firm Pfizer expected to be announced in December.
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Health & Environment
Hong Kong’s private healthcare sector expected to offer RSV vaccine in December
British pharmaceutical company GSK beats Pfizer in race to offer vaccine that can protect elderly against common respiratory infection.
1
United States & Canada
Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter dead at 96
The Carter Centre said she died on Sunday after living with dementia. Former US president Jimmy Carter, 99, said: ‘Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished’.
2
China Business
Fosun Pharma to deliver China-made surgical robots in key medical milestone
The Fosun Group is looking to make another major leap in the healthcare industry as it prepares to deliver locally-made surgical robots to hospitals.
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Health & Environment
Hong Kong to receive new Covid-19 vaccines targeting XBB variant ‘by end of year’
Source says one batch of vaccines arriving end of this year, and other to be delivered in early 2024.
Politics
Malaysia faces heat over faulty ventilators bought ‘on WhatsApp’ during Covid
Officials spent US$100 million on some 8.5 million vaccine doses that went unused, while US$4.2 million was wasted on mostly faulty ventilators, a parliamentary report said.
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Health & Environment
Makeshift Hong Kong Covid hospital expanding services to ease ‘pressure points’
Patients referred from public hospitals will be able to receive endoscopy and sleep tests from October 31 at facility in Lok Ma Chau Loop.
Health & Environment
Hospital Authority chief warns of flu surge as Hong Kong enters mask-free winter
‘People, children in particular, will be more vulnerable as they have not been exposed to any major flu virus in the past three years,’ authority chief Tony Ko says.
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Health & Environment
Call for Hong Kong children to get Covid-19 jabs, after infected 20-month-old dies
Dr Patrick Ip, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, warns parents against ‘pandemic fatigue’ amid Covid-19 outbreak predicted for next month.
Law and Crime
2 Hong Kong women jailed for forgery of Covid-19 jab certificates
Nguyen Thi Duyen and Wong Man-ki sentenced to up to three years behind bars after admitting forgery of Covid-19 jab certificates and exemptions
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Health & Environment
Call for flu shots as 37 serious cases in Hong Kong in 1 week lead to 21 deaths
Respiratory expert David Hui from CUHK warns influenza season to peak between January and March, potentially overlapping with Covid outbreak.
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My Take|Anti-vaxxers highlight political polarisation in North America
Divisions in the democratic West long considered sources of strength, except by the Chinese authorities, are now being seen in a new light.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
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Health & Environment
Hong Kong coronavirus sewage check system may expand to look for flu
Health secretary Lo Chung-mau says sewage tests carried out since Covid-19 pandemic hit had helped predict start of outbreaks and could also signal increased flu infection rate.
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Editorial|Do the right thing, get those flu jabs ahead of the Hong Kong winter season
With vaccinations now freely available, those from high-risk groups have no excuse to ignore warnings of city’s health professionals
SCMP Editorial
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