The Macau Health Bureau (SSM) said yesterday that it is planning to purchase mRNA COVID-19 vaccines specifically for children aged between 5 and 11.

Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Health Bureau, and Tai Wa Hou, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, made the remarks when attending a current affairs phone-in programme hosted by Ou Mun Tin Toi, the Chinese-language radio channel of public broadcaster TDM.

Two types of COVID-19 vaccines are currently available in Macau, China’s Sinopharm inactivated vaccine and Germany’s BioNTech mRNA vaccine. Currently, Sinopharm jabs are administered to those aged three or over in Macau, while BioNTech shots are given to those aged 12 or over.

Children aged between 3 and 11 in Macau have been covered by the government’s COVID-19 vaccination programme since late November when it lowered the minimum age for Sinopharm jabs from 12 to 3.

Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rate reached 72.86 percent yesterday – i.e., nearly 73 percent of the population had received at least one jab, according to the latest official statistics.

According to the website of the Health Bureau’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, as of 4 p.m. yesterday, 996,946 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Macau, where 497,682 people had been inoculated against the novel coronavirus (receiving at least one jab), comprising 29,541 who had only received their first jab, 422,016 who had received their second jab, and 46,125 who had received their third jab.

A small number of people in Macau have been vaccinated against COVID-19 outside Macau. In general, their COVID-19 vaccination records are officially recognised in Macau.

The official COVID-19 vaccination rate of 72.86 percent as of yesterday was calculated based on Macau’s population of 683,100 at the end of 2020.

According to the latest available demographics, Macau’s population stood at 682,300 at the end of September.

The city’s COVID-19 inoculation rate of the whole population had already reached the 70-percent benchmark in late November. Observers have noted that while Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst young and middle-aged people are quite high, the population’s inoculation rate has been rising slowly over recent weeks due to a slow increase in the jab rates amongst senior citizens and children.

During yesterday’s phone-in programme, Tai reported Macau’s latest COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst different age groups. As of Tuesday, according to Tai, the vaccination rates amongst different age groups were: 1.6 percent amongst those aged from 3 to 11; 65 percent amongst those aged between 12 and 19; 94 percent amongst those aged from 20 to 29; 96.3 percent amongst those aged between 30 and 39; 99.9 percent amongst those aged from 40 to 49; and 81.5 percent amongst those aged between 50 and 59.

According to Tai, as of Tuesday the COVID-19 vaccination rate amongst senior citizens stood at 61.6 percent amongst those aged between 60 and 69; 41.9 percent amongst those aged from 70 to 79; and 14.9 percent amongst those aged 80 or over.

Tai noted that the city’s COVID-19 inoculation rates amongst those aged 19 and below and those aged 70 and over are still low. Tai urged unjabbed residents to get inoculated against COVID-19 and eligible residents to receive a booster jab as soon as possible.

Since late last week, all those aged 18 and over who have been fully inoculated against the novel coronavirus at least six months ago, regardless of having received two Sinopharm jabs or BioNTech shots, can get a third COVID-19 vaccine dose as their booster jabs.

Tai reaffirmed that the vast majority of people are suitable to get inoculated against the novel coronavirus, except those few who are allergic to COVID-19 vaccines or any ingredient of the vaccines.

Tai noted that children aged between 3 and 11 in Macau can choose to get inoculated with the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine, as research studies worldwide have still not come up with findings indicating that it is suitable for children in this age group to be inoculated with mRNA vaccines.

According to Tai and Leong, the Macau Health Bureau is discussing the possible purchase of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines specifically for children aged between 5 and 11 with the manufacturer. Both said that once such a kind of mRNA jabs have been delivered to Macau, the Health Bureau will soon start administering the vaccine to those aged between 5 and 11.

Tai Wa Hou (left), a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, and Leong Iek Hou, who heads the Health Bureau’s (SSM) Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Division, attend yesterday’s phone-in programme hosted by public broadcaster TDM’s Chinese-language radio channel. Photo courtesy of TDM