Hong Kong health authorities have urged the public to get the latest Covid vaccine as the next wave of the virus is set to arrive.
The Centre for Health Protection said on Friday active periods of Covid-19 came in cycles of every six to nine months.
More than five months had passed since the last periodic upsurge of Covid activity, it noted, as it asked the public to get the vaccine “in a timely manner” to reduce the risk of serious illness and death.
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“According to the centre’s analysis, the active periods are associated with the changes in the predominant circulating strains and a decline in herd immunity in Hong Kong,” controller Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin said.
Since late March, the local predominant strains have changed from KP.2 and KP.3 to NB.1.8.1, according to the centre.
The latest surveillance data also indicates that NB 1.8.1 and LP 8.1 are currently the co-circulating strains in the local community.
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