Hong Kong should make Covid-19 vaccines available for children under the age of three as soon as possible, as shots from BioNTech SE and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. safely and effectively protect them against the virus, a vaccination adviser to the government said.
Hong Kong’s Covid-19 expert advisory panel will discuss toddler vaccination next week, said Lau Yu-lung, who is the chairman of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases. While the issue needs to be thoroughly discussed by the panel, he said he plans to do his best to convey his opinion.
“Hong Kong is still in a dangerous situation with kids under three not vaccinated,” Lau said during a press conference on Thursday. “I certainly personally am inclined to give parents a choice quickly.” The issue gained additional attention and urgency after city health officials reported details about a 22-month-old who developed seizures after contracting the virus, and subsequently was airlifted to the hospital from an outlying island. She’s currently in critical condition and receiving intensive care.