Get Covid jab before supply gap: expert

A prominent paediatrician on Sunday urged the public to get their Covid jabs as soon as possible since the current batch of Covid-19 vaccines would expire soon. Mike Kwan, president of the Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, said it takes two weeks for the body to develop full immunity after getting the vaccine and high risk individuals should get vaccinated before the vaccine supply gap. He noted that vaccines for those aged 6 months to 11 years old would expire on July 10 while for those aged 12 or above would expire on September 5. "The new strain of the vaccine coming to Hong Kong will be the end of this year, so this means that there will be a gap where there will be no Covid vaccine available in Hong Kong," Kwan spoke after a Commercial Radio programme. "If any individual, especially those high risk individuals including small children, elderly and compromised people, if they have not yet received the Covid vaccine or their vaccine was received more than six week since the last dose, please [get your] vaccination as early as possible to increase your immunity to protect against Covid infection." Kwan noted that Covid has become increasingly common and warned that many people are underestimating the danger. With the peak summer travel season approaching, people should get their jabs before leaving Hong Kong, he said. He added the public should also be aware of their personal hygiene as the summer influenza season has started. Kwan also addressed the recent case of a two-year-old getting infected with H9 bird flu after the child reportedly visited a chicken stall at a wet market. He reminded parents to prevent children from touching live poultry and ensure poultry is cooked thoroughly. Edited by Tony Sabine