Not everyone will need a fourth Covid jab: expert

Government vaccine adviser Lau Yu-lung said on Friday that he is against the idea of giving the whole population a fourth dose of Covid vaccine, saying this will not be necessary unless new variants emerge.

Expert committees under the Centre for Health Protection have recommended that people aged 60 or above get a fourth jab, at least three months after their third dose.

Professor Lau, who chairs one of the committees, said three doses already offer enough protection, but it is worthwhile to give another booster to the elderly to further reduce the risk of death.

He said healthy and younger people do not need a fourth jab.

“I do not think for the young and the healthy without severe diseases like cancer… will need a fourth jab. The three doses are very, very, very good already,” he said.

“Scientifically it’s not necessary…In fact it’s harming you, because you might get yourself tired, in many different ways, physically, spiritually. Why should you get something that you do not need?”

Lau said the elderly and high-risk groups won’t need further boosters after a fourth jab, as long as no new variants of the coronavirus appear.

Speaking on another radio programme, government expert David Hui also said that people aged under 60 will not need a fourth jab in the short-term.

These people can wait until the rollout of second-generation vaccines in the second half of this year, he said.