The government said on Thursday that almost 100 toddlers between six months and three years old have received a Sinovac jab in the first few hours of the vaccination scheme’s extension to cover this age group.

Some 150 parents have also made vaccination bookings for their children.

Civil service minister Ingrid Yeung said she's encouraged by the response, and called on parents to get their children inoculated as soon as possible.

"There have been kindergartens lining up for outreach service for children in the next week, I'm quite encouraged actually. I believe in the days to come, there will be more parents arranging for their children's vaccination," she told reporters during a visit to a kindergarten in To Kwa Wan that had signed up for an outreach vaccination service.

Yeung noted that since the Omicron wave hit Hong Kong, two children under the age of three have died after being infected with Covid, while more than 30 toddlers remain hospitalised.

Apart from being offered at some HA outpatient clinics, community vaccination centres and private clinics, the civil service chief said the Sinovac shots will also be made available at various Maternal and Child Health Centres from the middle of this month.

Meanwhile, the minimum age for the BioNTech vaccine remains at five as authorities continue to engage in discussions with the drug manufacturer to try and purchase toddler jabs.
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Last updated: 2022-08-04 HKT 17:23