BioNTech jabs for priority groups can be booked by March 3

The BioNTech vaccine will be available to priority groups in Hong Kong beginning March 10. (PHOTO FROM: biontech.de)

Bookings for Covid-19 immunisation using the BioNTech vaccine will be available to priority groups starting Wednesday morning.

A government statement said that by 9 a.m. on March 3, people may schedule their Comirnaty vaccination appointments between March 10 to 30 on the website www.covidvaccine.gov.hk. Seven community centres will administer the Comirnaty vaccine during the period.

Those who wish to receive the CoronaVac vaccine manufactured by Sinovac may still book their appointments through the same website and get inoculated in any of the eight community centres and 18 general outpatient clinics under the Hospital Authority.

More than half-a-million doses Comirnaty vaccine arrived on Saturday, with another batch set to arrive in the coming days. The vaccine, jointly developed by German firm BioNTech and American company Pfizer, has a reported efficacy rate of over 90% based on the results of clinical trials.

Clinical trials on Sinovac’s CoronaVac reportedly logged an efficacy rate of over 60%.

The free vaccination program will first accommodate people aged 60 and above, healthcare personnel, residential care home staff, essential public service workers, and cross-boundary and boundary control personnel.