The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today said vaccination against COVID-19 would help create a barrier against a local outbreak of the disease. He called on the members of the Macao public to contribute to the city’s anti-epidemic work by maintaining their personal good health.

Mr Ho today received a first dose of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine, as did most principal officials of the Government. 

Mr Ho told reporters after receiving his first dose of vaccine that he had not experienced any special sensations in terms of reaction to it. 

The Chief Executive said that people attending the “Two Sessions” – to be held in Beijing – would have to be vaccinated in advance against COVID-19. Sinopharm had updated recently its guidelines, lifting age limit for the vaccine’s recipients. Mr Ho said he as the Chief Executive would certainly support the vaccination in Macao. 

Mr Ho is scheduled to receive his second dose of Sinopharm vaccine at the end of February, in order to be able to take part in the “Two Sessions” in Beijing. Generally, it is recommended that a second dose be given four weeks after the first. 

When speaking to reporters, Mr Ho stated Macao had sourced a total of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm. A first batch of 100,000 doses was delivered to Macao on Saturday (6 February), and the remaining 400,000 doses were expected to arrive in Macao by the end of February. Such effort illustrated the strong support for Macao shown by the Central Government, he added. 

Vaccination against COVID-19 in Macao was on a voluntary basis, Mr Ho said. There would be, also by the end of February, another type of vaccine delivered to Macao. At that stage, the Macao public would be offered a choice, he said. 

Also speaking to reporters, Secretary Ao Ieong said she had not had any reaction after receiving a dose of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine. She would receive her second dose in four weeks. 

Sinopharm guideline has asked people aged 60 or above to consult medical advice in order to get vaccinated. This was due to insufficient clinical statistics –managed by Sinopharm – from that age group. With the increasing statistics Sinopharm had processed, the Government would provide timely the Macao public with updated information, the Secretary added.

She called on members of the public to support vaccination, as long as they wished to do so, and were well informed about the step.

A ceremony was held today to mark the launch of Macao’s vaccination programme. The current phase of the programme is for priority groups. It would then be open to other Macao inhabitants.