The scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection and the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel today issued their consensus interim recommendations on the use of the Comirnaty bivalent vaccine specific to Omicron BA.4/5.

At a meeting today, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases, together with the advisory panel, reviewed the latest epidemiology, scientific evidence of monovalent and bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as well as overseas vaccination practices.

They considered that the Comirnaty bivalent vaccine specific to Omicron BA.4/5, when available, can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose of the current ancestral strain vaccines for eligible people aged 12 or above following the vaccination schedule.

Moreover, the experts recommended immunocompromised children aged six months to 11 years to receive four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine on par with immunocompromised adolescents in order to obtain better protection.

The time interval between the first two doses of Comirnaty for children was also reviewed in the meeting.

Taking reference from the recommendations given to the older age group, the experts considered the dosing interval could be shortened to a minimum of three weeks for children with personal needs, such as studying abroad, under informed consent and after consideration of individual risk and benefit.

The committees reiterated that both adults and children should receive the first two doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the same type.

For those who have developed severe side effects after taking the initial dose, vaccination with another type of vaccine may be considered on a case-by-case basis with informed consent. Such individuals may choose to receive a different vaccine for their subsequent doses.

The experts also stressed that timely vaccination with the recommended number of doses is more crucial than the type of vaccine received. Eligible people should complete all recommended doses with available vaccines as early as possible to build up their immunity.