Omicron booster jab coming soon to a doctor near you

Locals can get the new Moderna Omicron booster jab on September 18, with the pharmaceutical company saying that more than 150 private hospitals and clinics have ordered its latest Covid-19 vaccine.

The booster is not included in the government's vaccination schemes and Hongkongers have to get the jab at their own expense.

Moderna said people aged 12 and above who had received Covid jabs before can get the booster shot.

Private hospitals and clinics, including Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, will provide the bivalent booster shots in pre-filled syringes.

It said pre-filled syringes are disposable syringes loaded with the vaccine substance to be injected and can reduce waste compared to multiple-dose vials used in the past.

"We are pleased to be the first company to bring an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in pre-filled syringes to the market," said senior vice president Patrick Bergstedt.

Gleneagles Hospital chief executive Kenneth Tsang Hing-lim said it is pleased to be the first hospital offering the new bivalent vaccine.

"With this additional vaccination option in pre-filled syringes, we strive to further enhance our patient care," he said.

Moderna also announced yesterday that another updated Covid-19 vaccine, which is awaiting approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration, is effective against the highly mutated new BA.2.86 variant.

The new vaccine "generates an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies in humans against BA.2.86," it said.

The news comes as the Centre for Health Protection announced that this year's subsidized seasonal flu vaccination scheme through private clinics will be launched on September 28, while vaccination schemes for students and care home residents will begin on October 5.

Under the outreach flu vaccination scheme for students, the authorities will send outreach teams to schools to provide free jabs for students.

So far, around 710 kindergartens, 450 primary schools and around 230 secondary schools have signed up for the program, the center said, adding the vaccines will be provided by the Department of Health and a subsidy will be provided to the doctors at HK$105 per dose.

Schools not participating in the program can also invite doctors to provide outreach vaccination on campus, it added.

The center said the authorities will also provide and deliver vaccines for free to care homes under the vaccination program.

The homes can invite medics to help residents get vaccinated and the subsidy will also be HK$105 per dose, it said.