The Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement yesterday that it will start the administration of a new type of COVID-19 jab tomorrow.
The statement said that in compliance with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest guidelines, the Macau Health Bureau has purchased Comirnaty mRNA jabs targeting the Omicron LP.8.1 subvariants.
Comirnaty is the brand name of the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 jointly developed by German biotechnology company BioNTech and US pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
The Comirnaty mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 is administered to all those aged at least six months.
Appointments for a jab can be made from 10 a.m. today on https://eservice.ssm.gov.mo/covidvacbook.
The statement pointed out that the jabs are free of charge for all local residents, non-resident workers (NRWs), prison inmates, and non-locals studying in Macau.
The statement noted that all other non-locals holding a permit to stay in Macau have to pay 250 patacas per jab.
According to the statement, the Health Bureau recommends that everyone aged five or over receive an LP.8.1 jab, regardless of whether they have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 or infected with the disease.
According to the statement, the bureau recommends that those aged from six months through four years receive three LP.8.1 jabs if they have never received any COVID-19 jabs.
Those in this age group who have previously received one non-LP.8.1 jab are recommended to receive two LP.8.1 jabs, the statement said.
According to the statement, those in this age group who have previously received two or more non-LP.8.1 jabs are recommended to receive one LP.8.1 jab.
The statement said that those aged from six months to four years who have received an LP.8.1 jab have to wait for at least eight weeks before receiving their next LP.8.1 jab.
The COVID-19 vaccine currently provided by the Health Bureau is Comirnaty mRNA jabs targeting the Omicron JN.1 subvariants, the administration of which started in November 2024. Starting from tomorrow, the bureau will start the administration of the new LP.8.1 jabs.
Yesterday’s statement also said that those who have recently been infected with COVID-19 or have received a non-LP.8.1 jab (such as a JN.1 jab) are recommended to have a dose of the new vaccine against the LP.8.1 subvariants three months afterwards.
According to the statement, the new vaccine will be available at six public health centres for those aged 12 or over, namely Ilha Verde, Ocean Gardens, Areia Preta, Praia do Manduco, Nossa Senhora do Carmo-Lago, and Seac Pai Van. The vaccine will also be available at the private Kiang Wu Hospital.
However, the new jabs will only be provided at the Ilha Verde Health Centre and the Ocean Gardens Health Centre for those aged from six months to 11 years.
The statement also urged high-risk individuals to receive an LP.8.1 jab, such as those aged 50 or over, those with chronic diseases, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and health workers.
This poster in Portuguese released by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday promotes its new COVID-19 LP.8.1 vaccinations.
