​The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (June 24) visited the University of Hong Kong Community Vaccination Centre at Ap Lei Chau Sports Centre to view the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine for teachers, students and their parents of Victoria Shanghai Academy.
      
     Professor Chan said, "I am delighted to learn that over 60 students, teachers and parents of the school joined the vaccination activity today. I especially thank the school for its positive response to the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme all along, including offering vaccination leave and free medical consultation for its staff members.
  
     "Having regard to the advice of the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines, I approved the lowering of the age limit for receiving the Comirnaty vaccine to the age of 12 early this month. With the lowering of the age limit, there are around 240 000 adolescents eligible to receive the Comirnaty vaccine. According to the data provided by the drug manufacturer, the protection for persons aged 12 to 15 is significant upon completion of two doses of the Comirnaty vaccine. The level of antibodies developed in them is higher than that in adults, with 100 per cent efficacy against the disease."
      
     "COVID-19 poses a serious threat to public health around the world, and the benefits of lowering the age limit for receiving the Comirnaty vaccine outweigh the risks. Not only can it protect adolescents from COVID-19 infection, but also it can enable them to resume normal school and daily life as soon as possible."
      
     Professor Chan appealed to all schools again to actively participate in the "Early Vaccination for All" campaign. She said, "Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, school life for adolescents has been affected intermittently. To create a safe learning environment, and to resume normal school life, I hope parents will arrange for their children aged 12 to 15 to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and work together to build an immune barrier for the community and help Hong Kong ride out the epidemic."

Ends/Thursday, June 24, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:30

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