Health authorities have announced that starting from today (Monday) all residents aged 18 years and over who have been vaccinated with two doses of an inactivated vaccine for more than 6 months and with no health contraindications will be allowed to make appointments for booster shots, with stricter requirements imposed for people vaccinated with mRNA vaccines.
Currently, the only inactivated vaccine available in the SAR is the Sinopharm vaccine, the first to become available in the city in February, 2020.
Meanwhile, those who have been vaccinated with two doses of the mRNA BioNTech vaccine for more than 6 months can only schedule the third dose if they have over 60 years of age, or in case they have between 18 and 59 years if they have relatively low immunity or are at higher exposure or hold higher health risks after infection.
Individuals under high risk were recommended to opt for the same type of vaccine that they administered in the first two doses, however, if it is their desire to opt for another one, they can still choose another vaccine.
People currently defined as having a high risk of exposure include workers in medical institutions, correctional, social services institutions, education, medical observation establishments; individuals who have frequent contact with sick people, the elderly, people with disabilities; individuals who have frequent contact with individuals from abroad or with a large number of the public; individuals who live in places of collective residence; workers at border posts, epidemiological investigations and cold chains; workers who maintain society’s basic services (water, electricity, telecommunications, transport, distribution of fresh and live food) in operation;
individuals who intend to move to high-risk areas; other individuals at high risk of exposure or with greater impact after being infected.
Meanwhile, individuals with relatively low immune function were defined as those being treated for cancer, cerebrovascular disease (such as stroke), obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes (type 1 and type 2), heart disease (such as heart failure, disease coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy), as well as chronic renal patients, smokers or ex-smokers.
Since November 9 booster shots have become available in the SAR for vulnerable and at-risk groups, with a total of 867 people had taken a third vaccine dose as of last week.
The Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) issued a statement today indicating that Public Administration workers can, justifiably, be absent from the service on the day of vaccination of the third dose or on the following day.
The Macau general Covid-19 vaccination has reached about 68.8 per cent and 77.5 per cent for the target population of people aged 12 and above.
According to the most recent update, a total of 471,702, people in Macau have been vaccinated with at least a dose of either Sinopharm or BioNTech vaccines, with 380,742 receiving the required two doses.
Previous vaccination data showed the lowest vaccination rates in the city were reported in the population under 18 years of age and above 65 years of age.
