Dear Staff and Students,
We would like to share the following message from Department of Health about Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines.
Health, Safety and Environment Office
Dear Sir/Madam,
Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines
1. Scientific Committees under CHP issue consensus interim recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination
The JSC-EAP reviewed the latest scientific evidence and noted that the two currently used COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines) are still very effective against severe disease in the majority of the population six months after completion of two doses.
The meeting also deliberated the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents. To balance the risk and benefit in the local setting, JSC-EAP recommends persons aged 12 to 17 years to receive one dose of the Comirnaty vaccine, instead of two doses.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/15/P2021091501003.htm
2. Department of Health reminds teenagers on vaccination arrangements with second dose appointment
Myocarditis or pericarditis are known adverse events of the Comirnaty vaccine reported in both overseas and locally, with the majority occurred following the second dose in adolescents. Most affected cases will respond well to treatment and can usually return to their normal daily activities after their symptoms improved. Adolescents and young adults should avoid strenuous exercise for one week after Comirnaty vaccination. They should seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms indicative of myocarditis or pericarditis such as acute and persisting chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations following vaccination.
The JSC-EAP recommends persons aged 12 to 17 years to receive one dose of the Comirnaty vaccine, instead of two doses. Teenagers aged 12 to 17 who have appointments to receive the second dose of the Comirnaty vaccine can opt to cancel the appointment online. For those with special needs who opt to receive the second dose and turn up at the Community Vaccination Centres (CVC) as scheduled, medical personnel at the CVCs will explain the above recommendation and the relevant risk to them and their guardians before they make the appropriate decision.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/15/P2021091500979.htm
3. Update on monitoring COVID-19 vaccination
As at 8pm on September 12, over 8.15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered for members of the public. More than 4.34 million people had received at least one dose of vaccine, accounting for 64.4 per cent of the population aged 12 or above. The DH received 5 843 reports of adverse events (0.07 per cent of the total vaccine doses administered). Among the death cases concerning persons who had been vaccinated, including 43 cases with vaccination within 14 days before they passed away (0.0005 per cent of the total vaccine doses administered), none of the death cases was associated with vaccination.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/15/P2021091500728.htm
More information on COVID-19 vaccines
We would like to solicit your support to disseminate the information to your colleagues, work associates and/or business partners so that they could adopt proper preventive measures. Thank you very much for your support.
Department of Health
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敬啟者：
2019冠狀病毒病及疫苗的最新資訊
1. 衞生防護中心轄下科學委員會發布2019冠狀病毒病疫苗接種的暫擬共識建議
聯合科學委員會聯同專家顧問團審視了最新科學實證，並留意到現時採用的兩款新冠疫苗（復必泰和克爾來福疫苗），對大部分人於完成接種兩劑疫苗六個月後對預防重症仍然非常有效。
聯席會議亦討論了為兒童及青少年接種新冠疫苗的事宜。根據本地情況平衡相關風險與裨益，建議12至17歲人士只接種一劑復必泰疫苗，而非兩劑。
詳情可參閱： https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/15/P2021091501004.htm
2. 衞生署提醒已預約接種第二劑疫苗的青少年有關接種安排
在海外和本地，心肌炎或心包炎是復必泰疫苗的已知異常反應，主要發生於青少年接種第二劑後。大多數個案對治療反應良好，通常在症狀改善後可以恢復日常活動。青少年及年輕人在接種復必泰疫苗後一星期內應避免劇烈運動。他們若在接種疫苗後患有心肌炎或心包炎的症狀，例如急性及持續的胸痛、呼吸困難或心悸，應即時求醫。
聯合科學委員會專家顧問團建議12至17歲人士只接種一劑復必泰疫苗，而非兩劑。如12至17歲青少年已預約接種第二劑復必泰疫苗，他們可於網上取消預約。如他們有特別需要而選擇繼續接種第二劑疫苗，並按預約到達社區疫苗接種中心，在場醫護人員將會向他們及其監護人講解上述的建議和相關風險，以便他們作出合適決定。
詳情可參閱：https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/15/P2021091500978.htm
3. 2019冠狀病毒病疫苗接種監測更新
截至九月十二日晚上八時，本港市民合共接種了超過815萬劑新冠疫苗。已接種最少一劑疫苗的市民超過434萬名，佔全港12歲或以上人口的64.4%。衞生署共接獲5 843宗異常事件報告（佔疫苗接種總劑量的0.07%）。就涉及接種疫苗人士的死亡個案，包括43宗涉及曾經於離世前14日內接種疫苗（佔疫苗接種總劑量的0.0005%），沒有死亡個案顯示與接種疫苗有關聯。
詳情可參閱：https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/15/P2021091500581.htm
更多新冠疫苗資訊：
希望你可以將有關資訊與你的同事、合作者及／或業務伙伴分享，讓他們都能採取合適的預防措施。非常感謝你的支持。
衞生署
