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Higher Covid-19 hospitalisation rates for children under 5; vaccination will 'reduce risk of severe infection': MOH official

Interim findings from a study found that older adults who had two primary doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine received more protection against Covid-19 with a Moderna booster than with Pfizer booster.

Interim findings from a study found that older adults who had two primary doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine received more protection against Covid-19 with a Moderna booster than with Pfizer booster.

The hospitalisation rate for children under five years old who are infected with Covid-19 is 5.2 per cent, higher than the rate for older children.

For those aged five to 11, the hospitalisation rate is 1.3 per cent among children who are not vaccinated and about 0.4 per cent for those who have received the jab.

Associate Kenneth Mak said that based on these figures, the vaccine that will be offered to young children aged between six months and five years old will be beneficial and reduce the risk of a severe infection.

The Health Sciences Authority has extended the authorisation of Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine to children, including those aged six months up to five years old. 

A decision on the recommendation for vaccination of this age group is expected soon.

"The vaccine will be administered as a course of two 25 microgram doses, which is a reduced dose formulation compared to that offered in older age groups," Assoc Prof Mak said.

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