Macao can receive the 4th dose of the new crown vaccine

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The Macau SAR Novel Coronavirus Infection Response Coordination Center (hereafter referred to as the Response Coordination Center) said today that the Macau Health Bureau will open appointments for the fourth dose of the Novel Coronavirus vaccine, i.e. the second booster, from August 4 onwards, and the earliest vaccination will be available from August 5. It is also recommended that the mRNA vaccine be preferred, especially for those who have completed the initial series of inactivated vaccines, and that the mRNA vaccine be used as a sequential vaccination for the booster dose to achieve better protection.

Recent information from the World Health Organization shows that after the 4th dose of the new crown vaccine, i.e. the 2nd booster, it is effective in boosting antibody levels, reducing breakthrough infections and increasing the effectiveness in preventing serious illness or death. The Strain Coordinating Center recommends that high-risk individuals should receive the 2nd booster dose as soon as possible and shorten the interval between the 1st and 2nd booster doses for high-risk individuals from 6 months to 3 months (not less than 12 weeks).

The Strain Coordinating Center specifies that high-risk individuals include those aged 60 or above, those aged 12 or above who are moderately or severely immunosuppressed, and those aged 18 to 59 who are living in residential care or rehabilitation homes. Moderately or severely immunosuppressed individuals include, but are not limited to, those who are undergoing active cancer treatment; have received an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressive drugs; have received a stem cell transplant for less than 2 years or are still taking immunosuppressive drugs; have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency; have advanced or untreated HIV infection; are actively treated with high doses of corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress the immune response; or have been evaluated by a physician evaluation.

In addition, non-high-risk individuals aged 18 to 59 may choose to receive a second booster after completing 6 months (not less than 24 weeks) of the first booster.

According to the analysis of earlier outbreaks in neighboring areas, the risk of death from unvaccinated vaccine is 3 to 6 times, 17 to 18 times, and 53 to 75 times higher than that of 1, 2, and 3 doses of vaccine, respectively, which fully demonstrates the significant protective effect of booster vaccination.