Covid-19 vaccination for the Macau SAR general population has been initiated today (Monday) in 12 health centres spread over the city and with 2,500 people expected to be inoculated on the first day.
Vaccination for priority groups and frontline workers was initiated on February 9 shortly after the first 100,000 Sinopharm vaccines arrived in the city and with 3,700 people vaccinated until today.
About 15,000 residents have already registered in the online platform set for the special vaccination plan, a number the Health Bureau Vaccination Coordinator, Tai Wa Hou, considered to be satisfactory.
“Since the general population vaccination only started today this number is satisfactory for authorities. We will continue to divulge more information and carry out awareness activities to attract more people,” Tai said at the Areia Preta Health Center.
The Areia Preta Health Center, located in one of the most densely populated city districts, has the highest vaccination capacity of the 12 location available, with 380 people expected to be inoculated in this centre today.
Currently, authorities can vaccinate about 5,000 people per day.
Mr. Tai also indicated that in the past two weeks since the vaccination plan started adverse reactions were reported in only a handful of cases, with some people reporting some indisposition, with symptoms such as low-grade fever or pain in the vaccination area.
The Macau government has purchased 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm; 400,000 doses of the mRNA-based vaccine by BioNTech, distributed in China by Fosun Pharma; and 400,000 doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca.
Vaccination is voluntary and residents are allowed to choose which of the three vaccines they would like to receive, however, at the moment only Sinopharm vaccines are available.
Mr. Tai indicated today that the first doses of the BioNTech vaccine are expected to arrive in the city by the end of February or the beginning of March.
“We don’t have an exact date for arrival. The vaccines are coming from Europe so we need to assess the flight transport period. Therefore we don’t have an exact date,” Tai added.
The Health Bureau Vaccination Coordinator also indicated that most people that have registered chose the Sinopharm vaccine.
People who desire to change vaccine type are be allowed to cancel a previous booking and schedule another.
