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Authorities should purchase adult-strength doses of BioNTech/Fosun vaccine and adjust the dosage for children from five to 11, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong suggests.
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Amid a shortage of the kid-sized doses of the German-made vaccine, society president William Chui Chun-ming said BioNTech and global partner Pfizer face problems in producing sufficient children's shots.
That is the reason why BioNTech and China partner Fosun Pharma have not applied to local authorities to lower the age requirement from 12 despite clinical trials proving the shots are safe and effective for those between five and 11.
"Overseas data have proven early inoculation of Covid vaccine in children can lower the number of infections in the age group, especially when highly infectious mutant variants emerge," Chui said.
Vaccinating children can help with herd immunity, he said, adding: "Not only can the 'children's effect' lower the number of child infections but also protect elderly citizens from contracting the coronavirus."
Chui said the Food and Health Bureau has approved lowering the age requirement for Beijing-made Sinovac to three from 17. But priorities are currently given to youngsters between 12 and 17, and kids aged 11 and below have yet to receive the Sinovac jabs.
However, the age requirement for BioNTech vaccine remains at 12, meaning children below that will have no choice other than Sinovac.
A study by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University has found the efficacy of BioNTech jabs to be significantly higher than Sinovac's against the globally trending Omicron variant.
Chui said BioNTech offers a children's version of its vaccine, but the pharmas faces difficulties in producing sufficient doses to meet global demands.
So the SAR may be unable to get its hands on the children's vaccine in June and July.
Chui said clinical trials show two BioNTech jabs of 10 milligrams each - one-third of the adult dosage - are safe and effective in children between five and 11.
Considering the SAR's pressing need, he called for adult doses to be adjusted and jabs given to children eight weeks apart rather than three weeks for adults.
Chui's comments came a day after government adviser Gabriel Leung Cheuk-wai slammed BioNTech and Fosun as "extremely irresponsible" for not applying to local authorities to lower the age requirement.
"The firms are making profits," he said. "They have to think about our children's health. If they are unwilling to sell vaccines to Hong Kong they should explain why."
