'Omicron-specific vaccine can be used as a booster'
Scientific experts advising the government on Thursday recommended that authorities should bring in a new generation of Covid vaccine that targets Omicron variants.  The experts pointed out that the BioNTech bivalent vaccine, which targets the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants, may trigger broader immunity against different strains compared to the original version.  They recommended that the new vaccine can serve as an alternative to the booster shot for those aged 12 or above.  The members of the Centre for Health Protection's Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases came to the conclusion after holding a meeting on Thursday afternoon.  One of the experts, David Hui from the Chinese University, had earlier said he expected Hong Kong may get the new-generation booster vaccine in January at the earliest.  Meanwhile, the experts also concluded that the recommendation that an eight-week gap between the first and second dose of BioNTech for children aged six-months to five years should be kept. It said the third jab for this age group should only be given at least three months after the second. They explained this would reduce the risk of heart inflammation, but added the dosing interval between the first two jabs could be shortened to a minimum of three weeks for those with personal needs. The experts also advised that those below the age of 18 should take the same type of Covid-19 vaccine for their first two doses, but subsequent doses can be different.