FAQsExpand all

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causes a significant disease burden worldwide. In Hong Kong, cases and outbreaks continue to be reported. To reduce the impacts of COVID-19 on public health and society and for the community to resume normal activities in a sustainable way, a substantial proportion of our population should get vaccinated early. In fact, vaccines against COVID-19 is considered an important public health tool for containing the pandemic in the medium and long term by increasing the population immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Local data showed that three doses of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. Comirnaty or CoronaVac vaccine) are highly effective in reducing hospitalization and death across all age groups in the adult population.

Taking reference from the recommendations of the Joint Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Disease and Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and expert advisers appointed by the Chief Executive, supply of the vaccines, and the progress of the vaccination programme, the Government decides and updates the vaccination arrangement according to latest situation. Please visit this page for details.

Characteristics of Fosun Pharma/BioNTech for BNT162b2 (Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine) and Sinovac Biotech (Hong Kong) (CoronaVac vaccine) are highlighted in the table below.

# For the dosing schedule for specific group of persons as well as the additional dose(s), please click here.

Population level protection will not be achieved in the short term. There is a need to continue public health strategies on other interventions, including social distancing, good hand hygiene and wearing a mask in public, to reduce the risk of transmission.

There is increasing evidence that co-circulation of COVID-19 virus and influenza virus could have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality, and poor outcome in co-infected individuals. In the context of the global pandemic of COVID-19, it is particularly important to ensure people who are at greater risk from infections or complications of both influenza and COVID-19, such as health care workers and older adults, can access and receive seasonal influenza vaccine. For Frequently Asked Questions on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination, please press here.

The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine has been lowered to 6 months from 4 August 2022; the minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine has been lowered to 6 months from 9 November 2022.

The number of vaccine doses depends on which type of COVID-19 vaccine you are receiving, your age group, infection records, etc. Please click here for more details.

If you plan to receive other types of vaccine with the COVID-19 vaccine, please go to question 30.

If the recommended interval has elapsed since the first dose, the second dose should be given at the earliest opportunity without repeating the series.

For the current implementation arrangement of additional dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccines, please click here.

Persons with NO previous COVID-19 infection

Persons without previous COVID-19 infection are advised to complete the first two doses with the same product when possible. In exceptional situations where the vaccine recipient is unable to complete the series with the same type of vaccine (e.g. due to severe side effect after the first dose; or if the vaccine is no longer available or accessible), vaccination with another COVID-19 vaccine may be considered on a case-by-case basis. For those have severe side effect and would need to receive another brand for second dose, please obtain relevant doctor's certification letter (including the reasons to receive another brand for second dose) from your attending doctor or family doctor and attend the vaccination venue. Health care professionals will arrange the vaccination based on individual circumstances.

Persons without previous COVID-19 infection may choose to receive the same type or another type of additional dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccines to enhance the protection after the completion of first two doses. Please click here for details.

Persons with previous COVID-19 infection

Recovered persons who completed the first dose may choose to receive the same type or another type as the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to enhance the protection, the interval between this dose (the second dose) and the first dose should follow the interval of the vaccine chosen at the first dose.

Inbound Persons who were not fully vaccinated

For inbound persons who were not fully vaccinated, please refer to Question 29 for vaccination arrangement.

For the current implementation arrangement of additional dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccines, please click here.

According to the latest experts’ recommendations, unvaccinated recovered persons aged 6 months or above are recommended to receive the vaccine 30 days after recovery (the date of recovery should be 14 days after the first documented positive test date). For details about the number of doses needed after recovery, please refer to: “COVID-19 Vaccination for Recovered Persons series 1” and “Factsheet on COVID-19 Vaccination for Persons with Prior COVID-19 Infection”.

The current vaccine is not indicated for babies below 6 months of age. For immunocompetent babies aged below 6 months when they got infection, they could receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at 6 months of age or 30 days after recovery (whichever is later), and then a second dose 90 days after the first dose.

Please check questions 27 and 38 for more questions on COVID-19 recovered persons.

Individuals who have history of severe hypersensitivity to a previous dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine, the active substance or to any of the vaccine components should not receive the vaccination. Those who have history of severe hypersensitivity to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polysorbate^* should not receive Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine. For other persons who should not receive Sinovac vaccine, please refer to question 66.

^*Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine contains PEG. Although polysorbate is not contained in Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine, it is closely related to PEG.

Anaphylaxis refers to a severe and immediate allergic reaction that include clinical signs and symptoms such as hives, nausea, dizziness, hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure), swelling, or wheezing (respiratory distress). From 14 to 23 December 2020, a total of 1,893,360 doses of Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine were given as first dose in the U.S. Among adverse events reported to their Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 21 of these reports were determined to be anaphylaxis following vaccination by Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine, corresponding to a rate of 11.1 per million doses administered. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), follow-up information was available for 20 of these cases and all had recovered or had been discharged home. 17 of these 21 cases (81%) had a documented history of allergies or allergic reactions, and seven had a history of anaphylaxis.

Based on the available information and recommendations from overseas health authorities and the World Health Organization as of January 2021, there is currently no evidence suggestive of any unexpected or untoward increase in mortality in frail elderly following the use of Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine. There is no clear evidence suggesting the reported deaths were due to its use either.

It is concluded that for most frail elderly, the benefit of reducing the risk of a severe COVID-19 disease course outweighs the risk of receiving the vaccine.

Experts of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health joined by the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel recommended older adults and those with pre-existing conditions, to get vaccinated early as they have a higher risk of severe disease and death. Both Comirnaty (BioNTech) and CoronaVac (Sinovac) COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in protecting against severe diseases and death from COVID-19 infection, which is generally related to T-cell response.

Regarding the latest meeting convened by the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines to conduct continuous benefit-risk analysis of authorised COVID-19 vaccines and the recommendations made, please refer to the latest relevant press release.

Regarding the latest meeting convened by the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines to conduct continuous benefit-risk analysis of authorised COVID-19 vaccines and the recommendations made, please refer to the latest relevant press release.

There were several Variants of Concern (VOC) circulating globally, including the variants first emerged in the United Kingdom (Alpha), in the South Africa (Beta), in Brazil (Gamma), in India (Delta) and in Botswana (Omicron).

In general, studies have shown that the existing vaccines works well against the non-variant. The effectiveness data against variants differ by vaccines. In particular, Omicron is an emerging variant first discovered on 11 November 2021 in a southern African country (Botswana). There is concern of this variant due to the presence of high number of spike mutations (more than 30), which may potentially result in increasing transmissibility of the virus as well as reducing vaccine effectiveness. The Department of Health of the Hong Kong SAR is capable of detecting COVID-19 variants and is monitoring its occurrence and development closely.

Both Comirnaty(BioNTech) and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in protecting against severe diseases and death from COVID-19 infection, which is generally related to T-cell response. The antibody response is related to prevention of infection and symptomatic disease. It is also more susceptible to VOC. Therefore, it may differ among different vaccines.

Achieving a high COVID-19 vaccination coverage as soon as possible and continuing robust non-pharmaceutical interventions to minimise the chance of viral transmission would be a priority goal in controlling the epidemic and preventing the emergence of variants.

COVID-19 vaccination should be delayed for individuals suffering from acute febrile diseases.

For frequently asked questions on COVID-19 vaccination for Children and Adolescents, please click here.

BioNTech and Sinovac vaccines provided in Hong Kong are highly effective against COVID-19 related serious illness and death. They are effective in protecting people from serious illness or even death from COVID-19 infection. Data shows that pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing severe adverse outcomes following COVID-19 infection, when compared with the non-pregnant population. COVID-19 also increases the risk of preterm birth by 2-fold and the extended perinatal mortality (i.e. the sum of stillbirth and neonatal death in the first 28 days of life) by about 50%. Studies have also shown that the COVID-19 vaccines are as effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and deaths in pregnant women as they are in the non-pregnant population. Besides, some studies showed that the antibodies generated after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women can pass to the fetus via the umbilical cord, and women can also provide protection to the babies during breast-feeding. According to the latest recommendation by the pharmaceutical companies, pregnant and lactating women can be vaccinated with BioNTech or Sinovac vaccines. Experts have repeatedly pointed out that vaccination in these women can provide effective protection, and recommended them to receive vaccination as soon as possible.

For Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (HKCOG) advice on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant and lactating women (interim; updated on 6 May 2022), please click here.

For persons with allergic history, be cautious for the 2 conditions below and they should consult doctor:

Immediate (within 1 hour) severe allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination or to more than 1 class of drugs;

Allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination which is not self-limiting or did not resolve by oral anti-allergy drugs.

For those who have anaphylaxis after the first dose vaccination and would need to receive another brand for the second dose, please obtain relevant doctor's certification letter (including the reasons to receive another brand for second dose) from your attending doctor or family doctor and attend the vaccination venue. Health care professionals will arrange vaccination based on individual circumstances.

Please refer to the following infographics:

• 3 Important Considerations
• Examples of Chronic Diseases

According to the consensus and recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination for patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases issued by the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology in May 2021, if the condition is relatively stable and there is no recent adjustment in medication, experts believe these patients should consider receiving the COVID-19 vaccination to reduce the chance of contracting COVID-19 and suffering from its complications. Although rheumatic diseases is a group of long-term diseases, it is not a contraindication to the COVID-19 vaccine. In most cases, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

Individuals on oral anticoagulants can get COVID-19 vaccination and they should continue the medication. After the intramuscular injection of the vaccine, direct pressure lasting for 5 minutes or more should be applied to the injection site.

There are limited safety and efficacy data on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in individuals suffering from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. From information provided by the drug companies, G6PD deficiency is not mentioned among the list of contraindications or precautions. If these individuals have any questions about whether their condition is suitable for vaccination, please seek medical advice.

Please refer to: "Factsheet on COVID-19 Vaccination for Persons with Prior COVID-19 Infection".

Please check questions 10 and 38 for more questions on COVID-19 recovered persons.

COVID-19 vaccines are currently not recommended as post-exposure prophylaxis. There is currently no evidence on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination as post-exposure prophylaxis. Regarding the two types of COVID-19 vaccine available to Hong Kong, the time to complete the first two doses of vaccine would exceed the common incubation period of COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to persons who are unsure if they had previous COVID-19 infection as if they have not been infected. COVID-19 vaccine is safe in people with evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Prior COVID-19 screening before administration of COVID-19 vaccine is neither needed nor recommended.

According to experts' advice, recovered persons can safely receive the next dose of vaccine no less than 28 days after recovery.

To increase the antibody level, persons who are unsure if they had a previous COVID-19 infection or persons who do not have their recovery record in the Department of Health's system are required to follow the relevant vaccination requirements applicable to uninfected persons. In other words, relevant persons are required to receive the vaccine dosage applicable to uninfected persons in time in accordance with their age groups.

Members of the public may call 183 0111 or email enquiry_chpweb@dh.gov.hk to inquire about recovery records in the Government’s system.

They should try their best to finish the vaccination series before arriving at Hong Kong.

For those eligible public who received COVID-19 vaccine outside Hong Kong, please bring along with your identity document, proof of your previous dose vaccination record (with date, venue of vaccination and type of vaccine) issued outside Hong Kong on the vaccination day. If they cannot make an appointment for the next dose with correct dose sequence of the vaccine through the online system, they may directly go to the vaccination venues for vaccination. Vaccination may be provided by staff after clarification and consideration of relevant details, including those of the previous dose vaccination.

For persons who are partially vaccinated outside Hong Kong with locally unavailable COVID-19 vaccines on the "List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes" and/or under the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing, if they had not received the required dose(s) stated on the List, they are recommended to complete their vaccination course with vaccines using the same platform or any suitable locally available alternative at least four weeks after the previous dose according to their needs. For example, for persons who had received one dose of vaccine outside Hong Kong, if the vaccine they received is included in the List and two doses are required as the primary series (e.g. AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine), they are recommended to receive one dose of Sinovac or Comirnaty vaccine as their second dose at least four weeks after the previous dose. For those who had fully or partially been vaccinated with vaccines not on the aforesaid lists, they are recommended to start over with vaccines available in Hong Kong following the local recommended schedule.

For more information regarding additional dose(s) for eligible individuals, please see question 37.

COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with, or at any time before or after, any other vaccines (*) including live attenuated vaccines under informed consent. If clients / parents of children wish to space out COVID-19 vaccine with live attenuated vaccines (e.g. Measles, Mumps, Rubella & Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine; Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV)), an interval of 14 days is sufficient.

* Remark: If individuals at high risk of exposure of Monkeypox need to arrange for pre-exposure Monkeypox vaccination, it is recommended an interval of at least 4 weeks before and after mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. BioNTech, Moderna)

COVID-19 vaccines for the elderly are highly recommended as they are the group with highest risk of complication and death from COVID-19 disease. Elderly should receive COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Please refer to the Venues at “About the Programme”.

Third Dose Vaccine
(1) Persons aged 6 months to 4 years and 12 years or above who had received two doses of BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine or immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years who had received two doses of BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine

(2) Persons aged 6 months or above who had received two doses of Sinovac (CoronaVac) vaccines

(3) Immunocompetent adults aged 18 years or above who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (or dose with previous COVID-19 infection) may choose to receive Comiralty (BioNTech) bivalent vaccine as another choice for their next dose following the current vaccination schedule.

Fourth Dose Vaccine
(1) Immunocompromised persons aged 6 months or above who had received three doses of Comirnaty vaccine or three doses of CoronaVac vaccines (see question 34)

(2) Persons aged 50 or above who had received three doses of Comirnaty vaccine or three doses of CoronaVac vaccines

(3) Persons aged 18 to 49 years who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure or with personal needs (e.g. to study abroad or to fulfil a requirement for overseas travel etc.) may choose to receive a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine after considering the individual risk and benefit

From 1 December 2022 onwards, Comirnaty bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose of the current ancestral strain vaccines for immunocompromisedeligible persons aged 12 years or above without previous COVID-19 infection who had received three doses of Comirnaty vaccine or three doses of CoronaVac vaccines.

Fifth Dose Vaccine
Starting from December 16, for persons aged 18 or above and who had received four doses (or recovered adults who had received the third dose and had received the last dose or recovered for more than six months), if they choose to receive an additional dose of vaccine for better protection, they may make appointments for receiving the fifth dose (or the fourth dose for recovered persons). Relevant persons may choose to receive the Sinovac, the BioNTech ancestral strain vaccine or the BioNTech bivalent vaccine.

If any COVID-19 vaccine received outside Hong Kong is not a Sinovac(CoronaVac) or BioNTech(Comirnaty) vaccine, then the individual should consult the medical staff on duty at the vaccination site on the suitability of third or fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information regarding Immunocompromised persons, please refer to question 34.

For more information regarding interval, please refer to question 35.

Immunocompromised persons include the following groups:

(i) Cancer or hematological malignancy on active immunosuppressive treatment now or in the past 12 months
(ii) Recipients of solid organ transplant or stem cell transplant on immunosuppressive treatment
(iii) Severe primary immunodeficiency or on chronic dialysis
(iv) Advanced or untreated HIV disease
(v) On active immunosuppressive drugs, or immunosuppressive chemotherapy/radiotherapy in past 6 months

Third Dose Vaccine
(i) Individuals aged 18 years or above who had received two doses of Comirnaty(BioNTech) or CoronaVac(Sinovac) vaccine are recommended to receive the third dose (CoronaVac or Comirnaty vaccine) as soon as 90 days after the second dose.
(ii) Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who had received two doses of CoronaVac vaccine: A third dose of either CoronaVac or Comirnaty vaccine given as soon as 90 days after the second dose is recommended.
(iii) Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who had received two doses of Comirnaty vaccine: A third dose of either Comirnaty or CoronaVac vaccine given at least 150 days from the second dose is recommended.
(iv) Children aged 6 months to 11 years who had received two doses of CoronaVac vaccine: A third dose given 90 days after the second dose is recommended. (v) Toddler aged 6 months to 4 years who had received two doses of Comirnaty vaccine: A third dose of either Comirnaty or CoronaVac vaccine given at least 90 days from the second dose is recommended.
(vi) Immunocompromised persons are recommended to receive the third dose of either Comirnaty (6 months old or above) or CoronaVac (6 months old or above) vaccine at least 28 days after receiving the first two doses vaccine.

Fourth Dose Vaccine
(i) Immunocompromised persons aged 6 months or above are recommended to receive the fourth dose of either CoronaVac or Comirnaty vaccine at least 90 days from the third dose.

(ii) Persons aged 50 years or above are recommended to receive the fourth dose of either CoronaVac or Comirnaty vaccine at least 90 days from the third dose.

(iii) Persons aged 18 to 49 years who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure or with personal needs (e.g. to study abroad or to fulfil a requirement for overseas travel etc.) may choose to receive a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 180 days from the third dose after considering the individual risk and benefit.

Comirnaty bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose of the current ancestral strain vaccines for eligible persons aged 12 years or above without previous COVID-19 infection.

Fifth Dose Vaccine
If persons aged 18 or above had received four doses (or three doses with prior infection) more than half a year ago, they may choose to receive an additional dose of vaccine six months after their last dose or recovery (whichever is later) for better protection under informed consent. A similar approach also applies to immunocompromised persons aged 18 or above, with a shortened time interval of three months.

Local data showed that three doses of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. Comirnaty vaccine or CoronaVac vaccine) are highly effective in reducing hospitalisations and death across all age groups in the adult population. Personal choice for the vaccine (CoronaVac or Comirnaty vaccine) as the additional dose is respected.

The BioNTech bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose for eligible persons aged 12 or above or as the third dose for recovered persons in the relevant age group following the current vaccination schedule. The BioNTech bivalent vaccine can also be used as an alternative to the third dose for persons aged 18 or above or as the second dose for recovered persons in the relevant age group.

As for the arrangement to administer the fifth dose, if persons aged 18 or above had received four doses (or three doses with prior infection) more than half a year ago, they may choose to receive an additional dose of vaccine six months after their last dose or recovery (whichever is later) for better protection under informed consent. A similar approach also applies to immunocompromised persons aged 18 or above, with a shortened time interval of three months.

Based on the available clinical data, the antibody level against Omicron BA.4-5 and its increment were higher after receiving the Comirnaty bivalent vaccine compared to the ancestral strain vaccine.

For the recommendation on the additional dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents, please see question 39.

If the vaccinated person is eligible for receiving the additional dose(s) and has received the vaccine outside Hong Kong, please bring along with the identity document, proof of the previous dose vaccination record (with date, venue of vaccination and type of vaccine) issued outside Hong Kong on the vaccination day. If they cannot make an appointment for the next dose with correct dose sequence of the vaccine through the online system, they may go directly to the vaccination venues for vaccination. In addition, they can choose private doctors and clinics participating in the programme, and make appointment for vaccination directly with the private doctors and clinics.

For persons who are fully vaccinated outside Hong Kong with locally unavailable COVID-19 vaccines on the "List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes" and/or under the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing, if they had received the required dose(s) stated on the List, they are recommended to receive any one of the available vaccines in Hong Kong for their additional dose, i.e. Sinovac or Comirnaty vaccine.

For example, for uninfected persons

• who had only received one dose of vaccine outside Hong Kong, if the vaccine they received is included in the above List and only one dose is required (e.g. Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine), they are recommended to receive an additional dose of Sinovac or Comirnaty vaccine as their second dose.
• who had only received two doses of vaccine outside Hong Kong, if the vaccine they received is included in the above List and two doses are required (e.g. two doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine or one dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine plus one dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine), they are recommended to receive an additional dose of Sinovac or Comirnaty vaccine as their third dose.
• who had only received three doses of vaccine outside Hong Kong, if the vaccine they received is included in the above List and three doses are required (i.e. ZF2001 COVID-19 Vaccine), they are recommended to receive an additional dose of Sinovac or Comirnaty vaccine as their fourth dose.

For those who had fully or partially been vaccinated with vaccines not on the aforesaid lists, they are recommended to start over with vaccines available in Hong Kong following the local recommended schedule.

For the latest recommendation of vaccination arrangement for recovered persons, please refer to: "Factsheet on COVID-19 Vaccination for Persons with Prior COVID-19 Infection".

Please check question 27 for the vaccination arrangement for persons with exposure to COVID-19. For persons who are unsure if they had a previous COVID-19 infection or persons who do not have their recovery record in the Department of Health's system, please refer to question 28.

For frequently asked questions on COVID-19 vaccination for Children and Adolescents, please click here.

Citizens can choose the vaccination locations for the additional dose(s), including community vaccination centers, private doctors' clinics, etc. Through the vaccination record system, medical staff at different vaccination locations can view the past vaccination records and input the record for the additional dose(s).

If you have received two doses of Sinovac(CoronaVac) or BioNTech(Comirnaty) vaccine, and it has been more than 90 days from the second dose, you should get the third dose as soon as possible.

Currently, there is limited information on the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of receiving vaccine outside the recommended schedule. If more than 90 days have elapsed after the second dose, the third dose should be given as soon as possible.

Please refer to question 1.

Comirnaty is a vaccine used for preventing COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The vaccine causes the immune system (the body’s natural defenses) to produce antibodies and blood cells that work against the virus, so giving protection against COVID-19.

As Comirnaty does not contain the virus to produce immunity, it will not give you COVID-19.

You should not receive Comirnaty if you are:

• allergic to previous dose of Comirnaty, or to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Talk to the healthcare professionals before you are given the vaccine if:

• you have ever had a severe allergic reaction or breathing problems after any other vaccine injection or after you were given Comirnaty in the past.
• you are feeling nervous about the vaccination process or have ever fainted following any needle injection
• you have a severe illness or infection with high fever. Vaccination should be delayed for individuals suffering from acute febrile diseases.
• you have a bleeding problem, you bruise easily or you use a medicine to prevent blood-clots.
• you have a weakened immune system, because of a disease such as HIV infection or a medicine such as corticosteroid that affects your immune system.

There is an increased risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) after vaccination with Comirnaty. These conditions can develop within just a few days after vaccination and have primarily occurred within 14 days. They have been observed more often after the second vaccination, and more often in younger males. Following vaccination, you should be alert to signs of myocarditis and pericarditis, such as breathlessness, palpitations and chest pain, and seek immediate medical attention should these occur.

As with any vaccine, Comirnaty may not fully protect all those who receive it and it is not known how long you will be protected.

You may receive a third dose of Comirnaty. The efficacy of Comirnaty, even after a third dose, may be lower in people who are immunocompromised. In these cases, you should continue to maintain physical precautions to help prevent COVID-19. In addition, your close contacts should be vaccinated as appropriate. Discuss appropriate individual recommendations with your doctor.

From 1 December 2022 onwards, Comirnaty bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose of the current ancestral strain vaccines for eligible persons aged 12 years or above without previous COVID-19 infection. Based on the available clinical data, the antibody level against Omicron BA.4-5 and its increment were higher after receiving the Comirnaty bivalent vaccine compared to the ancestral strain vaccine. In terms of safety, clinical data and overseas vaccination data show that the safety profile of Comirnaty bivalent vaccine is similar to that of the ancestral strain vaccine.

Comirnaty vaccine is administered intramuscularly. Persons aged 6 months to 49 years are recommended to receive the second dose 8 weeks and immunocompromised persons aged 6 months to 49 years and persons aged 50 years or above are recommended to receive the second dose 3 weeks after the first dose to complete the vaccination course.

For frequently asked questions on COVID-19 vaccination for Children and Adolescents, please click here.

For the current implementation arrangement of additional dose(s) of COVID-19 vaccines, please click here.

For the vaccination arrangement for COVID-19 recovered persons, please refer to question 10.

Before administration, tell your doctor if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines or have recently received any other vaccines.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before you receive this vaccine. Comirnaty can be used during pregnancy. A large amount of information from pregnant women vaccinated with Comirnaty during the second and third trimester have not shown negative effects on the pregnancy or the newborn baby. While information on effects on pregnancy or the newborn baby after vaccination during the first trimester is limited, no change to the risk for miscarriage has been seen. In addition, Comirnaty can also be given during breast-feeding.

The JSC-EAP convened a meeting on 23 December 2021. The experts recommended pregnant and lactating women to receive the mRNA vaccines, including a third dose, with the same administration arrangements as for the general adult population. Please click here for the relevant press release.

Some of the possible effects of vaccination may temporarily affect your ability to drive or use machines. Wait until these effects have worn off before you drive or use machines (Please refer to question 52 for the possible side effects of the vaccine).

The active substance of Comirnaty vaccine is COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

Adult formulation: After dilution, the vial contains 6 doses of 0.3 mL with 30 micrograms mRNA each.

The other ingredients are:

• ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315)
• 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
• 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)
• cholesterol
• potassium chloride
• potassium dihydrogen phosphate
• sodium chloride
• disodium phosphate dihydrate
• sucrose
• water for injections

The vaccine is a white to off-white dispersion (pH: 6.9 to 7.9) provided in a multidose vial of 6 doses in a 2 mL clear vial (type I glass), with a rubber stopper and a purple flip-off plastic cap with aluminium seal.

Pack size: 195 vials, 5 vials, 1 vial

Paediatric and toddler formulation: After dilution, the vial contains 10 doses of 0.2 mL with 10 micrograms or 3 micrograms mRNA each.

The other ingredients are:

• ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315)
• 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
• 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)
• cholesterol
• trometamol
• trometamol hydrochloride
• sucrose
• water for injections

The vaccine is a white to off-white dispersion (pH: 6.9 to 7.9) provided in a multidose vial of 10 doses in a 2 mL clear vial (type I glass), with a rubber stopper and an orange (10 micrograms) or maroon (3 micrograms) flip-off plastic cap with aluminium seal.

Pack size: 10 vials

Bivalent vaccine: The vial contains 6 doses of 0.3 mL with 15 micrograms mRNA encoding Original viral spike protein and 15 micrograms mRNA encoding Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 per dose.

The other ingredients are:

• ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315)
• 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
• 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)
• cholesterol
• trometamol
• trometamol hydrochloride
• sucrose
• water for injections

The vaccine is a white to off-white dispersion (pH: 6.9 to 7.9) provided in a multidose vial of 6 doses in a 2 mL clear vial (type I glass), with a rubber stopper and a grey flip-off plastic cap with aluminium seal.

Pack size: 1, 5, 10 vials

The principle of the nucleic acid vaccine is to extract part of the ribonucleic acid from inside the virus, bind lipids and introduce it into human cells; the vaccine is imported into human cells and express the gene (antigen) of the new coronavirus spike protein to induce the human immune system to produce antibodies, and activate T cells to destroy the infected cells.

So far, no significant safety concerns were observed in the clinical trials (Please refer to question 52 for the possible side effects of the vaccine), and the clinical trial data demonstrated a 95 percent vaccine efficacy in preventing COVID-19 disease (Please refer to question 56).

The Department of Health will monitor the local safety profile (Please refer to question 54) and continue to monitor the latest safety and efficacy assessment issued by drug regulatory authorities of advanced countries and jurisdictions and the references promulgated by the World Health Organization.

Like all vaccines, Comirnaty can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. In general, common side effects of Comirnaty are usually mild and temporary. Some may experience more severe, but in general rare, adverse effects.

It is a matter of fact that the research and development period of COVID-19 vaccines is greatly compressed as compared to other regular vaccines. Hence, the occurrence of rare or unpredictable severe adverse event after widespread vaccination on the population cannot be completely ruled out.

There is a remote chance that Comirnaty could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the Comirnaty.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include difficulty in breathing, swelling of your face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over your body, dizziness and weakness.

Comirnaty is still being studied in clinical trials.

The overall safety profile of Comirnaty in adolescents 6 months to 15 years of age was similar to that in vaccinees 16 years of age and older.

Very common side effects: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• irritability (6 months to < 2 years)
• injection site: pain, swelling
• tiredness
• headache
• drowsiness (6 months to < 2 years)
• muscle pain
• chills
• joint pain
• diarrhoea
• fever

Some of the aforementioned side effects were slightly more frequent in adolescent 12 to 15 years than in adults.

Common side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• injection site redness (‘very common’ in 6 months to 11 years)
• nausea
• vomiting

Uncommon side effects: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• enlarged lymph nodes (more frequently observed after the third dose)
• feeling unwell
• arm pain
• insomnia
• injection site itching
• allergic reactions (e.g. rash (‘common’ for 6 months to < 2 years), itching)
• feeling weak or lack of energy/sleepy
• decreased appetite (‘very common’ for 6 months to < 2 years)
• excessive sweating
• night sweats

Rare side effects: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• temporary one sided facial drooping
• allergic reactions (e.g. hives, swelling of the face)

Very rare side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or inflammation of the lining outside the heart (pericarditis) which can result in breathlessness, palpitations or chest pain

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

• severe allergic reaction
• extensive swelling of the vaccinated limb
• swelling of the face (swelling of the face may occur in patients who have had facial dermatological fillers)
• a skin reaction that causes red spots or patches on the skin, that may look like a target or “bulls-eye” with a dark red centre surrounded by paler red rings (erythema multiforme)
• unusual feeling in the skin, such as tingling or a crawling feeling (paraesthesia)
• decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin (hypoaesthesia)

According to the product’s information, there may be hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis after administration of Comirnaty. Recipients of Comirnaty should be kept for observation and monitored for a minimum of 15 minutes. Persons with history of anaphylaxis should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before you receive this vaccine, and if vaccinated, should be observed for at least 30 minutes after they receive the dose.

If you have history of immediate (within 1 hour) severe allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination or to more than 1 class of drugs, or allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination which is not self-limiting or did not resolve by oral anti-allergy drugs, please consult your doctor.

If you get any serious side effects, you should talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Healthcare professionals will offer advice, manage your condition and make proper assessment for reporting to the Department of Health (DH).

The DH has an adverse drug reaction (“ADR”) reporting system which receives adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) reports to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and if necessary, healthcare professionals will report any adverse event following immunisation that is medically significant to the DH for continuous monitoring of the safety of the vaccine.

Comirnaty is administered as a series of two doses. You may get some protection from the first dose, and having the second dose will give you a better protection against the virus. It takes time after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and offer protection against COVID-19.

The efficacy of Comirnaty in preventing COVID-19 was studied in a very large clinical trial which involved around 44,000 people in total aged 12 years and older. Half received the vaccine and half were given a placebo saline injection. Participants did not know whether they received the vaccine or the placebo saline injection.

Efficacy was calculated in over 36,500 people from 16 years of age (including people over 75 years of age) who had no sign of previous infection. The study showed a 95% reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 cases in the people who received the vaccine (8 cases out of 18,198 got COVID-19 symptoms) compared with people who received a dummy drug (162 cases out of 18,325 got COVID-19 symptoms). This means that the vaccine demonstrated a 95% efficacy in the trial.

The trial also showed around 95% efficacy in the participants at risk of severe COVID-19, including those with asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or a body mass index >30 kg/m².

Follow-up data from this ongoing clinical trial was analysed to determine efficacy for individuals 16 years of age and older. Approximately 20,000 participants received the vaccine and approximately 20,000 participants were given a placebo. They did not have evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection through seven days after the second dose. For a period of up to 6 months, 77 COVID-19 cases occurred in the vaccine group and 850 cases in the placebo group. Overall, the vaccine demonstrated 91.3% efficacy.

Besides, in adolescents 12 to 15 years of age without evidence of prior infection, there were no cases in 1,005 participants who received the vaccine and 16 cases out of 978 who received placebo. The efficacy is 100%. In participants with or without evidence of prior infection, there were 0 cases in the 1,119 who received vaccine and 18 cases in 1,110 participants who received placebo. This also indicates an efficacy of 100%.

The efficacy of Comirnaty was also calculated in almost 2,000 children from 5 to 11 years of age who had no sign of previous infection. These children received either the vaccine or a placebo. Of the 1,305 children receiving the vaccine, three developed COVID-19 compared with 16 out of the 663 children who received placebo. This means that, in this study, the vaccine was 90.7% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19.

You may get some protection from the first dose of Comirnaty, and completing all doses will give you a better protection against the virus.

Please refer to question 8.

Updated efficacy analyses of secondary efficacy endpoints supported benefit of the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine in preventing severe COVID‑19.

Please refer to question 17.

According to the information provided by Fosun Pharma, the Comirnaty vaccines for Hong Kong will be produced in Germany.

The vaccine manufacturer must comply with the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, or equivalent. The imported vaccine also has a Certificate of Analysis to prove that it meets the specifications.

Adult formulation:

• Once removed from freezer, the undiluted vaccine can be stored for up to 1 month (31 days) at 2 °C to 8 °C; not exceeding the printed expiry date (EXP). Within the 1-month shelf-life at 2 °C to 8 °C, up to 48 hours may be used for transportation.
• Prior to use, the unopened vaccine can be stored for up to 2 hours at temperatures up to 30 °C.
• Thawed vials can be handled in room light conditions.
• After dilution, store and transport the vaccine at 2 °C to 30 °C and use within 6 hours. Discard any unused vaccine.
• Once removed from the freezer and diluted, the vials should be marked with the new discard date and time.
• Once thawed, the vaccine cannot be re-frozen.
• Do not use this vaccine if you notice particulates in the dilution or discoloration.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.

Paediatric and toddler formulations:

• Once removed from the freezer, the unopened vial may be stored and transported refrigerated at 2 °C to 8 °C for a single period of up to 10 weeks; not exceeding the printed EXP. The outer carton should be marked with the new discard date at 2 °C to 8 °C.
• Once thawed, the vaccine cannot be re-frozen.
• Prior to use, the unopened vials can be stored for up to 12 hours at temperatures between 8 °C and 30 °C.
• Thawed vials can be handled in room light conditions.
• After dilution, store and transport the vaccine at 2 °C to 30 °C and use within 12 hours, which includes up to 6 hours transportation time. Discard any unused vaccine.
• Do not use this vaccine if you notice particulates in the dilution or discolouration.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.

Bivalent vaccine:

• Once removed from the freezer, the unopened vial may be stored and transported refrigerated at 2 °C to 8 °C for up to 10 weeks; not exceeding the printed EXP. The outer carton should be marked with the new discard date at 2 °C to 8 °C.
• Once thawed, the vaccine cannot be re-frozen.
• Prior to use, the unopened vials can be stored for up to 12 hours at temperatures between 8 °C and 30 °C.
• Thawed vials can be handled in room light conditions.
• After first puncture, store the vaccine at 2 °C to 30 °C and use within 12 hours, which includes up to 6 hours transportation time. Discard any unused vaccine.
• Do not use this vaccine if you notice particulates or discolouration.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.

From airport to warehouse

Upon arrival at Hong Kong, the vaccines would be delivered directly to the warehouse in their original package released by the European manufacturer. The package is a thermal container containing dry ice to maintain its inside temperature. A temperature logger would also be placed to log the inside temperature of each package during transport.

Storage at warehouse

Upon arrival at the warehouse, the package would be opened and the vaccines would be transferred immediately to ultra-low temperature freezers which are validated to maintain the vaccines at their required storage temperature (i.e. -90℃ to -60℃). The warehouse responsible person would release the batch of vaccines for use only if the data from the temperature logger is checked to ensure the vaccines were kept at the required storage temperature during the whole journey from the manufacturer to the warehouse.

Temperature monitoring

Validated local and remote alarm systems would be installed in each ultra-low temperature freezer. In case of any temperature excursion, the alarm systems would alert the warehouse responsible persons. Back-up power and contingency storage plans are also available in case of power failure or mechanical failure of the ultra-low temperature freezers.

Thawing of vaccines

Upon receipts of orders from the vaccination centres/sites, the vaccines would be taken out from the ultra-low temperature freezers and thawed within a validated cold-room inside the warehouse, which is validated to be maintained temperature at 2℃ to 8℃. The thawed vaccines would then be labelled with their use-by date and time after thawing, packaged and prepared for delivery, all these would be done inside the validated cold room.

Delivery of vaccines

The thawed vaccines would be delivered by validated cold boxes packed with coolants to maintain their temperature. Every cold box for delivery would also be equipped with a temperature logger to record the temperature during the delivery process. Upon receipts of the vaccines, the staff of vaccination centres/sites would verify the data from the temperature loggers to ensure the vaccines were maintained at 2℃ to 8℃ during the whole transportation process from the warehouse to the vaccination centres/sites before releasing the vaccines for use.

The above strict cold-chain control can ensure the quality of Comirnaty vaccines would not be affected by any out-of-range storage temperatures.

Please refer to question 1.

CoronaVac is a vaccine used for preventing COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.

CoronaVac contains inactivated (killed) SARS-CoV-2 viruses, which causes the immune system (the body’s natural defenses) to produce antibodies and blood cells that work against the virus, so giving protection against COVID-19.

As CoronaVac only contains killed virus, it will not give you COVID-19.

You should not receive CoronaVac if you:

• had history of allergic reaction to CoronaVac or other inactivated vaccines, or any component of CoronaVac (active or inactive ingredients, or any material used in process).
• had previous severe allergic actions to the vaccine such as anaphylaxis, angioneurotic edema, dypsnoea, etc.
• had any adverse reaction of nervous system after a previous dose of the vaccine.
• have severe neurological disease (e.g. transverse myelitis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, demyelinating disease, etc.)
• have uncontrolled severe chronic disease.

Talk to the healthcare professionals before you are given the vaccine if:

• you have fever.
• you have atopy.
• you have an acute disease or severe chronic disease, or in the acute phase of a chronic disease.
• you have diabetes, or history of convulsions, epilepsy, encephalopathy or mental illness, or family history of these diseases.
• you have thrombocytopenia or haemorrhagic diseases.
• you have a weakened immune system because of a disease such as malignant tumour, nephrotic syndrome, AIDS, or a medicine such as corticosteroid that affects your immune system.

As with any vaccine, the 2-dose vaccination course of CoronaVac may not fully protect those who receive it and it is not known how long you will be protected.

CoronaVac is administered intramuscularly and the first two doses should be administered 28 days apart.

For the current implementation arrangement of additional dose(s)of COVID-19 vaccines, please click here.

For the vaccination arrangement for COVID-19 recovered persons, please refer to question 10.

Before administration, tell your doctor if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines or have recently received any other vaccines.

In addition, injection of human immunoglobulin and the vaccine should be separated by at least one month to avoid affecting the immune effect.

According to the product information of CoronaVac vaccine, the clinical data of pregnant or breastfeeding women are not available at present but it is not a Contraindication.

Some of the possible effects of vaccination may temporarily affect your ability to drive or use machines. Wait until these effects have worn off before you drive or use machines (Please refer to question 72 for the possible side effects of the vaccine).

The active substance of CoronaVac is inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus (CZ02 strain), each vial contains 1 dose of 0.5 mL with 600SU of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus as antigen.

The other ingredients are:

• aluminium hydroxide
• disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate
• sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate
• sodium chloride
• water for injection

The vaccine is a milky-white suspension. Stratified precipitate may form which can be dispersed by shaking.

Pack size: 40 vials per box.

Like all vaccines, CoronaVac can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. In general, common side effects of CoronaVac are usually mild and temporary. Some may experience more severe, but in general rare, adverse effects.

It is a matter of fact that the research and development period of COVID-19 vaccines is greatly compressed as compared to other regular vaccines. Hence, the occurrence of rare or unpredictable severe adverse event after widespread vaccination on the population cannot be completely ruled out.

There is a remote chance that CoronaVac could cause a severe allergic reaction.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include difficulty in breathing, swelling of your face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over your body, dizziness and weakness.

CoronaVac is still being studied in clinical trials.

Please refer to the Vaccination Fact Sheet for CoronaVac for details of the possible side effects.

According to the product’s information, allergic reactions may occur after administration of CoronaVac. Recipients of CoronaVac should be kept for observation and monitored for a minimum of 15 minutes. Persons with a history of allergies should consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice before you receive this vaccine.

If you have history of immediate (within 1 hour) severe allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination or to more than 1 class of drugs, or allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination which is not self-limiting or did not resolve by oral anti-allergy drugs, please consult your doctor.

Please refer to question 54.

CoronaVac is administered as a series of two doses. You may get some protection from the first dose, and having the second dose will give you a better protection against the virus. It takes time after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and offer protection against COVID-19.

The clinical trials of CoronaVac clinical trials are conducted in Brazil and Turkey.

The target population of the Phase 3 clinical trial in Brazil includes medical staff who would come into contact with COVID-19 patients. 12,396 participants completed 2 doses of vaccination (14 days apart between the 2 doses) and entered the observation and monitoring period 14 days after the second dose, during which 253 cases were found. From the research data, it is concluded that the vaccine efficacy of preventing COVID-19 14 days after the completion of 2 doses of vaccination: the efficacy of preventing hospitalization, severe illness and death is 100.00%, the efficacy of preventing obvious symptoms and requiring medical treatment is 83.70 %, and the efficacy rate of preventing mild symptoms without medical treatment is 50.65%. According to the information currently available, there is limited efficacy data for people aged 60 or above in this clinical trial.

As for the Phase 3 clinical trials conducted in Turkey and Indonesia, according to current data, the vaccine efficacy has also been proven to be above the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) efficacy criteria of 50% in subjects aged 18 to 59, but more data are needed for further evaluation.

Please refer to question 8.

Please refer to question 59.

Please refer to question 17.

According to the information provided by Sinovac, the CoronaVac vaccines for Hong Kong will be produced in Daxing District, Beijing, China. Click here to read the package insert (detailed version)

The vaccine manufacturer must comply with the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, or equivalent. The imported vaccine also has a Certificate of Analysis to prove that it meets the specifications.

The vaccine should be kept out of the sight and reach of children.

The following information about storage, expiry, use and handling is intended for healthcare professionals.

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Store in refrigerator at 2 °C to 8 °C. Do not freeze.
• Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
• Use immediately after opening.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

The Government has launched the territory-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (the Government Programme) to offer COVID-19 vaccination free of charge to all eligible persons in a phased and orderly manner according to their risk categories. Under the Government Programme, COVID-19 vaccination will be available in different locations, including hospitals and clinics, and outreach to residential care homes and community vaccination centres.

The Government will decide which type of vaccine to be provided depending on different circumstances, such as the groups of vaccine recipients, settings and delivery time of vaccines.

Since September 2022, the Government has gradually consolidated the service network and adopted a more flexible and more cost-effective strategy involving collaboration with private medical organisations, making good use of different venues to set up Community Vaccination Stations (CVSs) or Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs) at locations with convenient transportation or high patronage, and providing vaccination service with more than one kind of vaccine at one vaccination venue. The Government will make further adjustments to the vaccination services and venues in light of the latest development of the epidemic and demand for vaccination.

After the closure of most CVCs, other vaccination venues including CVSs, PCVSs, COVID-19 Vaccination Stations in public hospitals (HCVSs), designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority, Elderly Health Centres, Maternal and Child Health Centres and Student Health Service Centres of the Department of Health (DH), together with some 1 000 private doctors providing COVID-19 vaccination service, will continue to provide vaccination service for Hong Kong residents. For details, please visit “About the Programme”.

When Black Rainstorm Warning / Typhoon Warning Signal No. 8 or above is in force, vaccination service in Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs), Children Community Vaccination Centres (CCVCs), Community Vaccination Stations (CVSs), Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (HCVSs) and Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs)will be suspended. Please click here to read the relevant FAQs for more information on the inclement weather arrangements of Vaccination Centres/Vaccination Stations.

Please refer to the relevant webpage section.

Children born outside Hong Kong to a parent who, at the time of birth of that child, is a Hong Kong permanent resident can be eligible for free vaccination under the Government Programme before obtaining an endorsement of permanent residence provided that -

(a) the child has already stayed in Hong Kong and fulfilled the duration of stay requirement for vaccination; and
(b) his / her application for right of abode in the HKSAR is being processed by the Immigration Department.

Parents need to go to post offices (except mobile post offices) during office hours, to make appointments for vaccination. They will need to provide the parent’s Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, the birth certificate to show the parental relationship, landing slips or extension of stay labels issued by the Immigration Department, and notification on the child's application for right of abode issued by the Immigration Department when making appointment and going to vaccination.

Currently, the online booking system only accept five identity documents, i.e. Hong Kong Identity Card, Hong Kong Birth Certificate, Consular Corps Identity Card, Holders of an acknowledgement of application for an identity card and Certificate of Exemption. For Hong Kong resident who are holding other identity documents, please bring the identity document to the CVCs (except those run by private hospitals) and the staff will reserve small amount of daily quota for their vaccination. They may also visit other venues, such as private clinic for vaccination.

In addition, for Hong Kong resident who are holding other identity documents, they can seek assistance for making online bookings from post offices.

Citizens going to receive vaccination should comply with the visitor infection prevention measures of the individual venue. Individual venue may refuse your vaccination according to their visitor infection prevention measures. For details, please consult the individual venue.

If citizens are not allowed to receive vaccination due to the venue’s visitor infection prevention measures, they are advised to defer the vaccination.

If you have further enquiries for Government Vaccination Programme, you may consult the staff of the vaccination venues direct. Citizens may also contact the telephone hotline at 3142 2366.

Information on side effects can be found on the fact sheet of the vaccines (Sinovac vaccine and BioNTech vaccine).

In general, common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are usually mild and temporary. Some may experience more severe, but in general rare, adverse effects. After receiving vaccination, you will be required to stay in observation area for 15 minutes.

To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot, you may apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area. Gently exercise your arm. To reduce discomfort from mild fever, drink plenty of fluids.

Seek advice from your doctor or other healthcare professionals (e.g. dentists, pharmacists, nurses and Chinese medicine practitioners) if:

• the pain or redness at the injection site increases after 24 hours from injection; or
• your side effects do not seem to be going away in a few days; or
• your side effects or symptoms are worrying you

If you do seek medical attention, make sure you tell the healthcare professionals about your vaccination details and show them your vaccination record card if available. They will offer advice, manage your condition and make proper assessment for reporting to the Department of Health any adverse event following immunisation that is deemed medically significant.

Sinovac and Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. These vaccines cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Please be aware that it typically takes some time for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it is possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

Sinovac and Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccines are given intramuscularly and very unlikely will affect the result of your nucleic acid or antigen tests for COVID-19 in respiratory samples, which are used to see if you have a current infection.

If your body develops an immune response (the goal of vaccination), there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests generally indicate you had a previous infection or previous history of vaccination and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

Generally speaking, laboratory testing of COVID-19 (PCR or serology) is not routinely required before or after administration of COVID-19 vaccines. A negative result or low antibody level may not correlate with lack of protection. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, consult a doctor and get tested if necessary.

For the sake of the public’s health, if a person has serious adverse event that lead to hospitalisation following the administration of the first dose of vaccine, his/her appointment for the second dose of vaccine at the Community Vaccination Centres or Hospital Authority’s General Out-patient Clinics will be cancelled, so as to allow the concerned person to consult his/her doctor before making another online appointment for the second dose of vaccine.

If you have history of immediate (within 1 hour) severe allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination or to more than 1 class of drugs, or allergic reaction to prior COVID-19 vaccination which is not self-limiting or did not resolve by oral anti-allergy drugs, please consult your doctor.

For the arrangement to receive another brand of vaccine for 2^nd dose, please refer to question 8.

Please click here for the relevant blood donor screening policy.

The Government has set up a website (www.evt.gov.hk) to facilitate public downloading of their own COVID-19 vaccination record and testing record as electronic version of the records to ease the storage and display in their smart mobile phone. When one has been vaccinated under the “COVID-19 Vaccination Programme”, s/he can download the “electronic vaccination record” from the website direct after verifying the identity through "iAM Smart" or the information of the identity document and vaccination date.

Remark: Regarding arrangement on "Government updates COVID-19 vaccination records", please click here.

If you have problem in using COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record system, you may send email to enquiry_evt@ogcio.gov.hk for enquiries.

If you found an error regarding the recovery information in the "Electronic Vaccination Record", please send email to enquiry_chpweb@dh.gov.hk for enquiries.

If you found an error regarding the personal particulars in the "Electronic Vaccination Record", please see question 100.

The batch / lot numbers of the vaccines are available on your vaccination record.

Yes, please click here to read the relevant FAQs for more information on the arrangement for declaration of non-local COVID-19 vaccination or recovery record.

The COVID-19 vaccination record in Hong Kong for Hong Kong Resident is based on the record of the Hong Kong Identity Card. The personal particulars in the vaccination record should be matched with the Hong Kong Identity Card. Thus, it is unable to change to use the passport information for record.

Information on the date of birth and sex of the vaccine recipient, as well as the manufacturer of the vaccine the person received have been added to the COVID-19 vaccination records issued by the HKSAR Government since September 29, 2021, with a view to meeting the travel rules (including vaccination requirements) that are becoming more commonly adopted by some overseas jurisdictions. For details, please click here.

In addition, starting from March 7, 2023, members of the public can download local vaccination records compatible with the European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) mechanism for outbound travel purposes via the COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System (eVT) or the "iAM Smart" mobile application. Members of the public who wish to travel to places outside Hong Kong should check before departure the destination's entry rules, including vaccination requirements, and that the latest announcement by the destination's government shall prevail.

For persons who received vaccination under the Government Programme, you may send email to vacs@dh.gov.hk to seek assistance. Please provide in your email the Reference number (Ref) at the bottom left of the paper vaccination record. If no reference number was printed on your paper vaccination record or if you prefer enquiry by other methods, you may seek assistance from your Vaccination Service Provider (such as the Community Vaccination Centre or relevant clinics).

For persons who received vaccination at their own costs outside the Government Programme, please seek assistance from your vaccination service providers.

For the recovered information in the Electronic Vaccination Record, please call 183 0111 or send email to enquiry_chpweb@dh.gov.hk

For rectification of declared non-local vaccination / recovery record, please declare again the relevant record, the non-local vaccination and/or recovery record would show the latest information you have declared (For more, please check question 98).

If you want to change the contact number of the vaccination booking, please send email to enquiry_vaccinebooking@ogcio.gov.hk for enquiries.

Since the different vaccination venues have different computer systems and equipments setup, some vaccination venues provide the vaccination records in black and white, and some of them do not contain the reference number. However, it will not affect the accuracy and completeness of the vaccination record. Vaccine recipients can rest assured to keep the record.

A verifiable QR code is provided on different forms of vaccination record (including paper / electronic vaccination record or self-declared non-local vaccination record). The QR code, which contains the last three records, is to facilitate the public to check their vaccination record (with built-in recovery information, if applicable). If a complete vaccination record is required (for example, individuals who have received four or more doses of vaccine), they can refer to the paper vaccination records or download the "Electronic Vaccination Record" via “iAMSmart” or “eHealth” mobile applications.

For persons who have their recovery record in the Department of Health's system, if they had received vaccination, they may also download the updated vaccination record with the QR code incorporated with their recovery status through the www.evt.gov.hk , "iAM Smart" or "eHealth" mobile applications.

If you have received the vaccination outside Hong Kong and you have not declared your first two doses record to the Government, you can declare your non-local vaccination record to the Government free of charge in order to get the combined version electronic vaccination record. For details, please check question 98.

If you have declared your non-local vaccination record to the Government, and then received vaccination in Hong Kong by the same identity document, you can visit COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System , “iAMSmart” or “eHealth” mobile app to download the combined version electronic vaccination record.

If you are unable to get the correct vaccination record or you need to seek assistance, you can re-declare your non-local vaccination record at the 18 designated Hong Kong Post Offices and get the printed electronic vaccination record together with the local vaccination record with assistance from the staff free of charge. For the addresses and the opening hours for the designated post office, please refer to https://www.hongkongpost.hk/en/services/non_local_covid19_vr/index.html#list

Please note that the paper vaccination record and its QR code issued by the Department of Health would only display vaccination records administered in Hong Kong but not your non-local vaccination record registered through voluntary declaration.

According to the information provided by Sinovac, CoronaVac vaccines supplied to Hong Kong are halal-certified.

According to the information provided by Fosun Pharma/BioNTech, there is currently no halal certificate for Comirnaty vaccines supplied to Hong Kong.

Taking the COVID-19 vaccine is permissible according to Shariah law. Many Islamic authorities and scholars are of the view that receiving COVID-19 vaccination as an intramuscular injection does not invalidate the fast.

The Government has earlier made an announcement in September 2020 that it would adopt a "two-pronged" strategy to procure vaccines for protecting against COVID-19 for the entire Hong Kong population. The Government has on one hand joined the COVAX Facility led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and at the same time directly entered into advance purchase agreements with individual vaccine developers for obtaining greater supplies of vaccines at an earlier time. The purpose of signing advance purchase agreements is to reserve in advance vaccines which have a higher chance of success for Hong Kong citizens, notwithstanding that the vaccines are still in the development process and have yet to obtain full approval from the relevant local regulatory authorities.

COVID-19 vaccines are mainly developed from four different technology platforms, including inactivated, viral vector, nucleic acid and protein subunit. The Government has consulted the Joint Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Department of Health (membership list of the committee can be found on the website of the Centre for Health Protection:www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24002.html) and the Government's four experts on anti-epidemic efforts regarding the above technology platforms and the candidate vaccines from each of the technology platforms which have basically entered into phase 3 clinical trial. The experts took the view that each technology platform has its merits. The experts also understood that the Government should procure candidate vaccines developed from different vaccine manufacturers and from different technology platforms. It should also procure sufficient doses to cover for at least two times the Hong Kong population, with a view to diversifying risks and ensuring sufficient supplies of vaccines for the whole population of Hong Kong.

In order to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccines, all vaccines for use must either be:

(a) authorised by the Secretary for Health in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K) for the use of the relevant COVID-19 vaccine in Hong Kong under the emergency situation for vaccination programmes conducted by the Government;

(b) registered by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong in accordance with the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A) before they could be sold or supplied in Hong Kong.

The COVID-19 vaccines are regulated by the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K) and/or Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A).

According to Cap. 599K, the Secretary for Health (the Secretary) may authorise a COVID-19 vaccine for the specified use which basically is vaccination programmes conducted by the Government. Before authorisation of a vaccine, the Secretary must take advice from the advisory panel which have considered the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine. Amongst other requirements, the vaccine must also have approval of use given by a drug regulatory authority in a place outside Hong Kong or World Health Organization. The Regulation also stipulates that the Secretary must put in place a mechanism for monitoring any adverse event occurred to the recipients associated with the administration of the vaccines.

With the large-scale use of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, more and more scientific and clinical data are reinforcing the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. The Government published the Prevention & Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) (Amendment) Regulation 2022 in the Gazette on 9 September 2022 to introduce a transitional arrangement for vaccines authorized under the Regulation such that the relevant drug manufacturers may, subject to the availability of sufficient scientific data and clinical information, apply to have the relevant vaccines included in the registration regime under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A).

According to Cap. 138A, pharmaceutical products (including vaccines) must satisfy the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality for registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the Board) before they can be sold or supplied in Hong Kong.

The Department of Health (DH) has an established mechanism to closely follow up on every report of adverse drug reaction (including vaccines) received. All along, DH has a pharmacovigilance system in place, and conducts causality assessment on received reports of Adverse Event Following Immunization (in particular serious adverse events) from pharmaceutical trade and healthcare professionals. The reports will be assessed to ascertain whether they are associated with the vaccination. DH also monitors the latest safety and efficacy assessment issued by drug regulatory authorities of advanced countries and jurisdictions and the references promulgated by the World Health Organization. If the risks of the vaccine considered outweigh by the benefits, DH will take appropriate actions including referral of the relevant information to:

(a) the Advisory Panel for review and consideration on the necessity to revoke the authorisation of the vaccine. The recommendation on revocation of the authorisation will be provided to the Secretary for consideration.

(b) the Registration Committee established under the Board for consideration on the necessity to suspend the registration or deregister the vaccine.

With regards to the possible adverse effect following immunisation of COVID-19 vaccines, DH will conduct monitoring in accordance with the Cap.599K and Cap. 138A and make reference to the prevailing mechanism, while maintaining the same level of vigilance for control.

The AEFI Fund is to provide financial support to eligible individuals who have proof of suffering unexpected serious adverse events (SAEs) (including death and serious injury) associated with COVID-19 vaccine. For details, please refer to click here.

All SAEs should be reported by medical professionals through the platform of Department of Health. After a report arising from an SAE is received, Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment following COVID-19 Immunization will conduct causality assessment. The affected individual will be eligible for a lump-sum payment at a level corresponding to the event under the Fund if the below two conditions are met –

1. there is certification by a registered medical practitioner of the SAE; and
2. the evaluation outcome of the Expert Committee cannot rule out that the event is not associated with the administration of a vaccine under the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

The levels of maximum payouts for fatal and injuries cases have been drawn up with reference to the amounts of compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282).

Payout for death associated with listed serious adverse events

Payout for injuries associated with listed serious adverse events

Claims to the AEFI Fund should be made within two years of vaccination of the last dose of the vaccine.

Receiving payment from the Fund will not affect the right of an individual to seek legal recourse for damages or loss against the vaccine manufacturer. A claimant can still undertake civil action against any person responsible for bodily injury. However, a claimant cannot receive double indemnity. If a claimant receives compensation as adjudged in court, the amount he/she previously received from the AEFI Fund will be offset from the court’s award.

For enquiries, please call hotline at 3142 2366.

Yes. There is a need to continue non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including social distancing, good hand hygiene and wearing a mask in public, to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

Vaccines will help reduce the number of people who become ill. Many countries has started mass vaccination campaigns using newly approved COVID-19 vaccines. A published study from Israel showed that mass vaccination with BNT162b2 could reduce symptomatic infections, hospitalisation and serious infections among those vaccinated.

However, there is not enough information from scientific studies to know how much vaccine reduces transmission of infection. With time, more data on the effects of mass vaccination may emerge.

By contrast, measures like handwashing, masks and social distancing are proven to reduce transmission.

Therefore at this time, the combination of NPIs and vaccination will provide the best protection against the virus.

Healthcare workers may regularly have contact with severely ill patients who have higher viral load. Healthcare workers may also have contact with vulnerable patients who have weak immune systems.

In the current period, the extent of the ability of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent transmission of the infection to others is still being studied.

Therefore, healthcare workers should still continue to adhere to full infection prevention and control measures in clinical settings including PPE, good hygiene etc.

For testing and quarantine requirements for vaccinated persons, please refer to the following:

https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/pa_early_flowchart.pdf

https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html

This issue is being actively debated worldwide.

Since the global situation is evolving, with the emergence of the newer and more transmissible variants but also increasing levels of vaccination in some countries, the Government of Hong Kong SAR will continue to monitor developments and will amends its requirements as indicated by newer scientific data and public health recommendations.

There is some preliminary evidence on the effects of vaccination on preventing transmission and challenges posed by the emergence of COVID-19 variants currently.

Hong Kong has a very stringent testing and quarantine requirement for inbound travellers.

The combination of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) with vaccination will allow for maximum protection against the virus. There is a need to continue public health strategies on NPIs, including social distancing, good hand hygiene and wearing a mask in public, to reduce the risk of transmission.

NPIs should continue to be followed by vaccinated individuals, as well as those who have not yet been vaccinated. Any changes to NPIs should be carefully monitored and reviewed with increasing vaccination coverage.

Alcohol is a toxic substance with direct and indirect effects on various body organs and systems. Alcohol consumption, especially in large amounts, weakens the immune system and makes the drinker more susceptible to infections. Studies have documented an increased risk of severe respiratory infections with drinking, including pneumonia.

In the fight against COVID-19, members of the public are appealed to live a healthy lifestyle and refrain from drinking for better health and a stronger immune system.

The COVID-19 situation warranted an emergency response. That does not mean any safety protocols or testing have been bypassed. While the development process has been expedited due to the high need for a vaccine, no short cuts have been taken. Indeed, there have been a lot of technological developments that allow vaccines to be developed much more quickly. All the ingredients in the vaccine, as well as the vaccine itself, have been fully checked and monitored to ensure its safety.

mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell and does not affect our DNA either. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein (or a piece of a protein) that triggers an immune response. That immune response is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.

COVID-19 is a deadly disease that may cause severe illness – and also long term consequences that we have yet to fully understand. The COVID-19 vaccines have been created so as to decrease death and severe illness. Although a high percentage of people recover from COVID-19, some experience severe illness or even die. It is also common to have the virus but never experience symptoms, and it is possible to spread the virus to others even when symptoms are not present. When you make the choice to be vaccinated, you are protecting not only you but also your family members and those around you from the chance of death and severe illness caused by COVID-19.

All ingredients in vaccines as well as the vaccines themselves are thoroughly tested and verified. There are some false claims that COVID-19 vaccines will use technology of injectable microchip implants to track human movement or even control bodily functions through 5G cell phone towers. This is false. There is no COVID-19 vaccine that will track people or gather personal information into a database.

The statement issued by the World Health Organization Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety that after reviewing the deaths reported in Europe and in the WHO global database, it was considered that the reports were in line with the expected, all-cause mortality rates and causes of death in the sub-population of frail, elderly individuals. There were no unexpected or untoward increase in mortality rate after frail, elderly individuals were vaccinated with BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and the administration of the vaccine was still considered to be beneficial for the elderly.

A large clinical trial showed that Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine was effective at preventing COVID-19 in people from 16 years of age. The study showed a 95% reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 cases.

After Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccination, it takes time for antibodies to develop in the body and offer protection against COVID-19.

Based on the available information and recommendations from overseas health authorities and the World Health Organization as of January 2021, there is currently no evidence suggestive of any unexpected or untoward increase in mortality in frail elderly following the use of Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccine. There is no clear evidence suggesting the reported deaths were due to its use either.

Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a series of 3-4 doses. You may get some protection from the first dose, and completing all doses will give you a better protection against the virus.

Sinovac and Comirnaty(BioNTech) vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Elderly persons have greater need for COVID-19 vaccination because they are more prone to complications and death if getting infected.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people aged 60 years and over are at higher risk of developing serious illness. Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism, multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, older adults are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. More than 81% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65. According to data shown from 6 to 16 November 2021, compared with those aged 18-29 years, the rate of death is 65 times, 150 times and 370 times higher in people aged 65-74 years, 75-84 years and 85 years or above respectively.

In Hong Kong, the proportion of death among the COVID-19 cases increase with age. For the 213 fatal cases (as of 30 November 2021), most (93%) affected elderly aged 60 years old or above.

People with chronic diseases have greater need for COVID-19 vaccination because they are more prone to complications and death if getting infected.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness. Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism, and/or multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, the risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. requiring hospitalization/intensive care/ventilator or death) increases as the number of underlying medical conditions increases in a person.

COVID-19 is a life-threatening disease not only can be deadly, but also can have long-term consequences. Getting vaccinated is much safer and beneficial than getting COVID-19.

Vaccination effectively protects people from serious illness and dying from COVID-19. Both Comirnaty and CoronacVac COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in protecting against severe disease and death from COVID-19 infection with a vaccine effectiveness above 80%.

In Hong Kong, more than 9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given as of end of November 2021. Comirnaty and CoronaVac can cause side effects, but not everybody gets them. In general, common side effects are usually mild and temporary. Some may experience more severe, but in general rare, adverse effects. Examples of very common side effects which may affect more than 1 in 10 people includes injection site pain, headache and tiredness.

Comirnaty vaccine is one of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K) that has satisfied the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality for emergency use in Hong Kong. It has been confirmed that Comirnaty vaccine does not contain any metal components or graphene oxide, please see FAQ 50 for the composition of Comirnaty. In addition, DH would keep closely monitoring the latest safety and efficacy assessment of COVID-19 vaccines issued by drug regulatory authorities of advanced countries and jurisdictions and the references promulgated by the World Health Organization, it is known European Commission have addressed similar concerns previously that such ingredients are not listed in the vaccine formulation.

Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent diseases. The risks of getting the virus itself are far much higher than those of the vaccine. In total, vaccines are estimated to save between 2 and 3 million lives every year. Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection. When we get vaccinated, we are not just protecting ourselves, but also those around us.

Like any medicine, vaccines may cause side effects. They are usually minor and temporary, such as a sore arm or mild fever. More serious side effects are possible, but extremely rare. Please remember, you are far more likely to be seriously injured by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine.

Vaccines contain various ingredients to keep them safe and effective. Many of the ingredients have been used for decades in billions of doses of vaccine. Each vaccine component serves a specific purpose, and each ingredient is tested in the manufacturing process. All vaccine ingredients are passed for safety.

Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way to protect people from harmful diseases before they are exposed. In fact, vaccines use your body's natural defence mechanism to build resistance against specific infections and strengthen your immune system.

Some vaccines only require one single dose to provide life-long protection. Nevertheless, most vaccines will require more than one dose (i.e. with the second dose, or third dose, several months apart). In addition to the above mentioned primary course of “multiple doses”, some vaccines may even require the recipient to receive a “booster dose” after a fixed period (e.g. one year, or several years after).

Vaccines should be stored under conditions as recommended by the manufacturers. Each vaccine has its specific storage requirements and shelf-life, which will be displayed on the label.

The vaccine products will have their own indication; and specific target population. For those who are suitable for the vaccinations, they should receive the vaccines in a timely manner, and according to the schedules.

Flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine are not the same. Flu vaccines will not prevent COVID-19, but they will reduce the risks of getting influenza and COVID-19 at the same time. This can keep you from getting a more severe illness.

When adverse events develop soon after vaccination, people may tend to blame the vaccine. Yet some symptoms or illnesses may also occur by chance after vaccination and are unrelated to the vaccine. Therefore, not all adverse events after vaccination are caused by the vaccine.