Hong Kong to resume Covid-19 vaccinations with BioNTech shots

Hong Kong to resume the use of BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine next Monday after abruptly halting inoculations few days back due to defective packaging.

A 300,000 dose batch is due to arrive in Hong Kong on Friday that was produced and packaged at a different plant to the two batches whose use was halted by authorities.

The announcement comes as the city’s government seeks to convince residents to get vaccinated after a sluggish take-up due to dwindling confidence in a rival vaccine from China’s Sinovac and fears of adverse reactions.

Prior to its suspension, the number of Hong Kong residents booking the BioNTech shot was more than double the number for the Sinovac shot, according to government figures.

The Hong Kong government said BioNTech was still conducting investigations into the previous two batches and it would wait for a final conclusion before using them. It added that the safety and efficacy of the vaccine has not been affected.

Around 7% of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million population has been vaccinated, one third of which have taken the BioNTech vaccine.

The BioNTech vaccine is distributed in Hong Kong and Macau via a partnership with China’s Fosun Pharma, while BioNTech partners with Pfizer in markets outside greater China.

MTO/Reuters