Coronavirus Vaccine

China has administered more than 200 million vaccine shots. Photo: Xinhua

China and US reach 200 million vaccine shots, Beijing battles tight supply

The pace of jabs in China picked up at the urging of the government but the country may not meet its goal of 40 per cent of the population vaccinated by July.

12 hours ago

Workers cross the street in Central. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong economy

Coronavirus: Hong Kong jobless rate drops to 6.8 per cent but near 17-year high

Rolling figure for three months ending in March edges down 0.4 percentage points compared to previous period.

8 hours ago

Indonesia has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

China vows to help coronavirus-hit Indonesia close vaccine divide

Beijing will aid Jakarta’s efforts to build a regional vaccine production centre, Xi Jinping tells Joko Widodo.

21 Apr 2021 - 9:03AM

A medical worker prepares a dose of the CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine at the Salvador Sanfuentes public school in Santiago, Chile. File photo: AP

Americas

Chile vets investigated for giving dog coronavirus vaccines to people

The pair administered vaccines developed against canine coronavirus to people in the city of Calama before human jabs arrived in the country

21 Apr 2021 - 4:16AM

Chinese company Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine is administered to a man in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: AFP

China’s vaccines put to real-world test against Covid-19

Studies of vaccinated populations in Chile and Brazil show Sinovac can reduce deaths, counter variants

21 Apr 2021 - 3:14AM

A health care worker administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: EPA

Asia

Japan’s foreigners head elsewhere for jabs; India records more than 2,000 deaths in a day

Health experts say it may take until winter for most of Japan’s general populace to get inoculated. Meanwhile, infections in India rose by a record 295,041 as total deaths from Covid-19 in the country reached 182,553.

21 Apr 2021 - 6:03AM

A health worker prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. Photo: Getty Images

Why limiting vaccines over blood clot fears could do more harm than good

Experts warn an overreaction to what are minuscule risks could prolong the pandemic by slowing down the roll-out of vaccines and fuelling public hesitancy.

21 Apr 2021 - 12:00AM

Hundreds of ampoules of fake Covid-19 vaccine were seized by police from a warehouse in Germiston, South Africa. Photo: Interpol

Opinion

Opinion|Coronavirus vaccine scams pose a growing threat to global health, economy

If left unchecked, trade in counterfeit goods could grow at a time of unprecedented health and economic crisis. Consumers must be vigilant amid increasing demand for vaccines and not let counterfeiters capitalise on their fear and impatience.

20 Apr 2021 - 7:37PM

People arrive to get a Covid-19 jab at a vaccination centre in Beijing. Chinese authorities aim to have 40 per cent of the population of 1.4 billion immunised by July. Photo: Reuters

China may approve BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in June, report says

Authorities expect it to get the go-ahead ‘somewhere in the June time frame’, head of AmCham Shanghai told Bloomberg, which would make it the first foreign-made Covid-19 jab to be administered in the mainland.

21 Apr 2021 - 3:30AM

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been linked to blood clots. Photo: Reuters

Johnson & Johnson to resume Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in Europe

The European Medicines Agency says the benefits of the shot outweigh the risk of very rare, potentially lethal blood clots.

20 Apr 2021 - 10:56PM

People wait to get the Sinovac vaccine at Kowloon Bay Sports Centre. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine offers less protection against South African strain

New data published by mainland scientists shows 70 per cent drop, but Hong Kong health experts seek to reassure residents and urge them to still get jab.

21 Apr 2021 - 1:02AM

A man receives the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in West New York, US. Photo: AP

Opinion

Opinion|Why mRNA Covid-19 vaccines are our best long-term strategy to fight the virus

Our immunity to the virus wanes over time. The advantage of mRNA vaccines like Pfizer’s is they’re much easier to update than the ‘viral vector’ shots like AstraZeneca’s, which is still an effective vaccine that will provide protection against severe Covid-19.

20 Apr 2021 - 9:00AM

Several countries are mulling launching Covid-19 vaccine passports for travellers. Photo: AP

WHO says against proof of Covid-19 vaccination for international travel

The UN health body said proof of vaccination as a condition of entry would deepen inequities.

20 Apr 2021 - 5:41AM

Hong Kong is on alert over a mutated form of the coronavirus. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

South African strain found in Hong Kong Covid-19 case, hotel door hooks blamed

Variant can break through protection offered by vaccines to some degree but shots should still be effective, according to studies.

21 Apr 2021 - 1:32AM

A health worker talks to a woman in a Covid-19 quarantine centre in New Delhi, on Monday. Photo: AP

Asia

Singapore eases restrictions for travellers from Hong Kong; UK adds India to ‘red list’

Instead of a 14-day stay-home notice at a government facility, travellers from Hong Kong will from April 22 be able to complete a seven-day isolation period at their place of residence.

20 Apr 2021 - 1:59PM

Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Photo: Reuters

Coronavirus: Britain confirms plans for Covid-19 booster shots

Enough vaccines have already been procured by the British government to start the roll-out of boosters for later this year, Hancock said.

19 Apr 2021 - 6:50PM

A Department of Health spokesman says they have not received any report of adverse events related to the case. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong vaccine expert to study case of man who got three doses

Professor Ivan Hung from HKU, co-convenor of the government panel on vaccine effects, will meet 32-year-old patient in hospital for tests, on request of authorities.

20 Apr 2021 - 4:41AM

Residents line up for vaccinations in Wuhan, China. A trial is under way to see if vaccines can be mixed to boost immunity and provide greater flexibility. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Chinese trial mixes Covid-19 vaccines using different technologies

CanSino Biologics shot was given to participants in Jiangsu and they will later receive the Anhui Zhifei Longcom jab. Similar trials are being carried out in Britain and Russia, with another awaiting approval in Italy.

19 Apr 2021 - 1:10PM

East Asia

South Korea’s looming 4th wave

19 Apr 2021 - 9:34AM

Military police officer Everaldo Pinto, dressed as Captain America, advises children on the need to protect themselves against Covid-19, in Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Photo: AP

World

Global Covid-19 cases hit weekly record, topping 5.2 million

The worst outbreaks are accelerating in many countries that are ill-equipped to deal with them.

19 Apr 2021 - 7:10AM

A volunteer participates in a University of Oxford vaccine trial in 2020. File photo: AP

World

Wanted: 64 volunteers willing to be reinfected for Oxford Covid-19 study

The first-of-its-kind trial at the University of Oxford may shed light on how to develop more effective vaccines against the pathogen.

19 Apr 2021 - 6:40AM

The country is ramping up its production capacity. Photo: Xinhua

China seeks to become global vaccine player in wake of Covid-19

The country’s pharmaceutical industry is expanding its production capacity as it gears up to produce 5 billion doses by the end of next year.

19 Apr 2021 - 4:11AM

Hong Kong has detected its second locally transmitted Covid-19 case involving a mutant strain, raising concerns about its circulation within the community. Photo: Bloomberg

Explainer|What you need to know about the mutant coronavirus strains in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has detected its second locally transmitted Covid-19 case involving a mutant strain, raising concerns about its circulation within the community.

19 Apr 2021 - 9:54AM

People queue for the Sinovac vaccine at Hong Kong Central Library, in Causeway Bay. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong resident received three Covid-19 vaccine jabs, officials reveal

Department of Health says 32-year-old man, who was given one Sinovac shot and two BioNTech jabs, failed to tell private doctor and staff at community vaccination centre about previous doses.

18 Apr 2021 - 10:44PM

A health care worker displays a vial of the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at a medical practice in Britain. Photo: AFP

Eastern Europe scrambles for unwanted AstraZeneca jabs

Eastern Europe has been an epicentre for Covid-19 deaths and infections in recent weeks – leaving the region desperate for more vaccine doses.

18 Apr 2021 - 7:16AM

Opinion

Editorial|Return to normality rests on Hong Kong getting simple jabs message

Those reluctant to be vaccinated against Covid-19 should remember inoculations bring about immunity without causing illness, prevent the spread of the disease and open the door to a brighter future.

Editorial|Vaccine mix worth exploring in face of worrying variants

4 hours ago

As global immunisation efforts against Covid-19 come under great strain, fresh ideas and approaches are still needed to help win the battle.

As I see it|National pride has no place in vaccine development during a pandemic

21 Apr 2021 - 2:24PM1

The stakes have been raised since scientists first aimed for a safe Covid-19 vaccine that was 50 per cent effective.

Josephine Ma

20 Apr 2021 - 11:32AM11

Editorial|Spread of variant proves we are not out of the woods yet

The need for extending and reinforcing some of the health and social-distancing controls must not be ruled out.

City Beat|Vaccination is means, end goal is making Hong Kong safe for economic recovery

20 Apr 2021 - 4:37AM2

Uncertainty over mutant strain, difficulties achieving ‘zero infection’ goal leave Hong Kong’s hoped-for economic rebound in limbo.

Tammy Tam

18 Apr 2021 - 12:46PM5

Editorial|Plug global gaps in Covid-19 protection

As the world death toll nears 3 million, poorer countries continue to register surges in cases owing to the uneven production and distribution of vaccines.

Editorial|AstraZeneca decision may yet give public shot of confidence

15 Apr 2021 - 3:36PM

Hong Kong will not be accepting stocks of the vaccine this year owing to concern over blood clots, raising hopes that bookings for available jabs in a sceptical city will increase.

Editorial|Variants threat calls for tough Hong Kong response

9 Apr 2021 - 3:33PM2

Hong Kong needs to closely monitor Covid-19 surges in the Philippines, India and Pakistan and accelerate its vaccine programme while maintaining public health measures.

Inside Out|Pandemic recovery has been slow, but we’ve come a long way

8 Apr 2021 - 5:07PM

Celebrations over the latest WTO trade projections are muted, but at gloomy times like this we need to draw comfort where we can. We should be thankful for small mercies given the dire predictions we were hearing a year ago at this time.

David Dodwell

4 Apr 2021 - 1:00PM1

Editorial|Long way to go with restart of BioNTech jabs

Officials must guard against bookings confusion after inoculations given safety go-ahead following ‘packaging defects’ in city where most people are not fully vaccinated.