As the number of Omicron cases is rising rapidly, tighter measures are being implemented across the world to prevent the spread of the latest variant of concern of the COVID-19 virus. And vaccination against COVID-19 is still the best way to provide protection for the individual and the community as a whole. So, once again, for people who are not up to date with the COVID-19 vaccinations, especially those in the elderly age group and those with chronic illnesses, please go and see your family doctor and receive the vaccinations at the earliest available opportunities.

During a recent meeting of the local expert panels, the initial studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron variant, overseas recommendations on use of COVID-19 vaccines as well as the latest situation of Omicron variant were reviewed. It has been concluded that people aged 18 years and above who had received two doses of Comirnaty or CoronaVac vaccine, a third dose of Comirnaty vaccine is highly recommended to be administered as soon as possible six months after the second dose. And people who are to travel overseas can get this booster jab earlier but not less than three months after the previous dose. Pregnant and lactating women are also recommended to have the mRNA vaccines, including a third dose, with the same administration arrangements as for the general population. 

A second dose of Comirnaty vaccine six months after the first dose is recommended for people who had previous infection. Regarding children and adolescents aged 12 to 17, the panels also updated that recent new data suggest that two doses of Comirnaty vaccine with a longer interval would result in better immune response as well as lowering the risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis when compared with a shorter interval. In view of the rapid spread of Omicron variant, people aged 12 to 17 years are recommended to receive the second dose of the Comirnaty vaccine 12 weeks after the first dose of Comirnaty vaccine. (Please Click) 

Hong Kong is also seeing imported cases of Omicron from various places and the Government has tightened up the pre-flight and quarantine requirements especially towards returnees from Group A specified places, e.g. negative COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours of departure, first 4 of the 21 days quarantine at Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre, a series of COVID-19 testing. 

In order to facilitate cross-border travelling from Hong Kong to Guangdong or Macao, The Hong Kong Health Code System has been created recently to facilitate qualified people to register for an account with their identity documents, upload their visit records from the “Leave Home Safe” App, perform health declaration and send their recognised nucleic acid test result and vaccination records to the Guangdong Health Code (Yue Kang Code) System or the Macao Health Code System as appropriate, in compliance with the requirements for inbound traveler health declaration and exemption from compulsory quarantine at Guangdong or Macao. (Please Click) Three kinds of codes, namely the Red, Amber or Green Hong Kong Health Code are generated by The Hong Kong Health Code system and the code generation standards are aligned with that of the "Yue Kang Code" issued by Guangdong Province. The Red code is generated for people who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, are probable cases, close contacts, household contacts of close contacts, have recovered from COVID-19 but were within 14 days of discharge from hospital, are currently under compulsory quarantine, and persons who have shown symptoms in the past 14 days; people who have visited or resided in high-risk areas in the preceding 21 days, or arrived at Hong Kong in less than 21 days, including people who have completed compulsory quarantine or are exempted from the compulsory quarantine requirement when they enter Hong Kong (except for those who entered Hong Kong from the Mainland or Macao under the "Return2hk" or "Come2hk" Schemes) will be given the Amber code; and the Green code will be issued to all the other people. And the Hong Kong Health Codes will be valid up to 11:59 pm on the day of application. 

The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians was established in 1977 and we would be celebrating our College’s 45th Anniversary in 2022. Please stay tuned for the celebration events in the new year! Happy birthday HKCFP!

Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Healthy New Year ahead!

Please keep well and stay safe.