Government announces arrival of new generation XBB vaccine

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The Government today (November 30) announced that the first shipment of about 100 000 doses of the new generation XBB mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 30mcg/dose) has arrived in Hong Kong. Government staff had immediately carried out stringent checking and inspection in accordance with established procedures to ensure that the vaccine complies with the product specifications and that the transportation process followed the relevant cold-chain requirements. The vaccines have been put in validated ultra-low temperature freezers to ensure its proper storage in accordance with the temperature specified by the drug manufacturer.

The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health discussed the use of the new generation XBB mRNA vaccine in a meeting on October 11 and experts considered that the XBB vaccine can provide better protection. In view of the limited local supply of the XBB vaccine, the Government will arrange the vaccination of high-risk individuals in batches. Those with higher risks, i.e. residential care home residents and elderly aged 65 or above, would be accorded priority to receive the first batch of XBB mRNA vaccines. The details of the vaccination arrangements will be announced early next month.

Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:00

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