HK approves Sinovac vaccine use

Inoculations for residents to start on Feb 26

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s Secretary for Food and Health has approved the emergency use of Sinovac and the government announced that inoculations for Hong Kong residents will start on Feb 26.

Health secretary Sophia Chan Siu-chee’s nod came two days after the city’s expert panel on vaccination unanimously recommended the Sinovac vaccine for emergency use.

The first million doses of Sinovac vaccine will arrive in the city tomorrow, while another million shots of BioNtech vaccine is expected to be delivered to the city before the end of February, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen told reporters yesterday.

An online reservation system will open Feb 23 for five groups of people regarded as particularly vulnerable or easily exposed to Covid-19.

Health workers, people aged above 60, home care residents and employees, people providing essential public services such as cleaners and police officers, as well as providers of cross-boundary services will be part of the first batch of residents to be inoculated.

Twenty-nine community inoculation centres will be set up across the city, five of which will offer Sinovac vaccines.

“Beginning Feb 26, the targeted groups can receive injections at the five centres and the Hospital Authority’s 18 General Out-patient Clinics,” Nip said.

According to a press statement, the health secretary believes that approval for the Sinovac vaccine is necessary and in public interest after taking into account recommendations of the city’s vaccine advisory panel.

Hong Kong’s health authorities have previously approved BioNTech’s vaccine.

RTHK reported that the first BioNTech shots are expected to arrive in the city next week.