The Secretary for Food & Health today approved lowering the age limit for receiving the BioNTech vaccine to 12.

The Department of Health submitted the application for lowering the age limit to the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines earlier, along with relevant clinical trial data for consideration.

After scrutinising relevant information, the advisory panel advised the health chief to approve the application.

Having regard to the panel's advice and taking into consideration the threat to public health posed by COVID-19, the bureau chief considered that the benefits of lowering the age limit for receiving the BioNTech vaccine outweigh the risks.

This can also protect adolescents from COVID-19 and enable them to resume normal school and daily life as soon as possible, the Government said.

It will announce the arrangements for providing the BioNTech vaccine to adolescents aged 12 to 15 early next week.