A medical expert advising the government on its Covid strategy on Friday urged parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible, saying it’s not realistic to wait for newer generations of vaccines or doses especially prepared for children.

Lau Yu-lung, who’s also chair professor of paediatrics at the University of Hong Kong, noted on an RTHK programme that some children have become seriously ill recently after catching Covid, as the number of cases in Hong Kong rises again.

“My advice is for people not to wait for the 'baby version' or 'children version' of the BioNTech vaccine. They will not sell it to us. The price would not be acceptable for the government,” he said.

“Don’t believe in rumours that there are a lot of stocks for us,” Lau added.

At present, people aged six months or above are eligible to receive the Sinovac vaccine, while the BioNTech jab is available for those aged five and over.

Lau also welcomed the government's plan to expand the vaccine pass scheme to children aged five to 11.

He said about 80 percent of children in this age group have received one jab and the vaccine pass requirement will encourage parents to arrange a second dose for them.