Topline
Three days after Hong Kong stopped the distribution of the Covid-19 BioNTech vaccine over concerns about defective viruses, an early study found “no evidence of any safety risks,” the local government said Saturday – meaning it could resume vaccination of Hong Kong residents. after one of the first worldwide safety fears for the vaccine.
Hong Kong CEO Carrie Lam takes a look at her Covid-19 vaccine schedule after receiving it … [+]
China News Service through Getty Images
Key facts
BioNTech, based in Germany, worked with Fosun to help test and manufacture the mRNA-based vaccine in China, and partnered with Pfizer to test the vaccine. and spread to the rest of the world, including the United States and Europe.
An early probe by Fosun and BioNTech did not detect “obvious systemic factors” in their manufacturing process, and no leaks were detected in other vaccine doses shipped to Hong Kong, the city government announced in a statement news.
The investigation did not rule out that filters were damaged when they were imported from Europe to Hong Kong.
Residents who have been vaccinated do not have to “worry,” the city said.
What do you look
BioNTech and Fosun hope to close their research within a week. Awaiting the results, the city said it hopes to continue providing the vaccines.
Quote Cruise
“Based on a state of safety, the Government will seek to restart the administration of the BioNTech vaccine to the public as soon as possible, in order to protect public health and the health of our citizens,” the government said in a statement. .
A large number
435,100. That’s how many vaccine doses Hong Kong has given, enough to give a single dose to about 5.7% of their population, according to government data. Most have come from China-based Sinovac, although more than a third are from BioNTech.
Key background
The slow pace of Hong Kong vaccine distribution has frightened some locals. The city began its vaccination campaign last month, but residents have been slow to take photos, partly due to concerns about the safety of the Sinovac vaccine and scattered but unconfirmed reports of the death of the vaccine. among patients who received it. This nostalgia comes as the Chinese government pushes for more influence over Hong Kong, which is autonomous and semi-independent from mainland China, sparking major protests in the city from two years ago. Hong Kong officials hope to vaccinate all residents before the end of the year, but the BioNTech vaccine is essential for its supply.
Tangent
Some 56% of residents told voters in January that they are willing to take the BioNTech vaccine, compared to just 29.5% who trusted Sinovac and 35% who trusted AstraZeneca.
Further reading
Hong Kong bans use of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine due to deficiency bottle lodge (Forbes)