As Covid-19 vaccine race heats up, can Hong Kong get the new drugs without legal hurdles slowing down the process?

Fears mount that Hong Kong is being left behind as countries race to secure massive vaccine supplies

Current rules already allow for speedy import of drugs in a public health emergency, experts point out

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Less than 5 per cent of medicines used in Hong Kong originate on the mainland, a situation that could change in an emergency. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00pm, 5 Dec 2020Updated: 10:59am, 10 Dec 2020

Hong Kong can speed up its acquisition of Covid-19 vaccines made anywhere in the world, including developing countries, without a need for new legislation, industry experts have said, amid worries the city risks being left behind in the race to secure the new drugs.

As it recorded yet another triple-digit increase in confirmed cases on Saturday, with 101 infections, Hong Kong’s reticence on its plans for vaccine acquisition stood in stark contrast to mainland China’s disclosure on Friday that it would have 600 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine ready for the market this year.

Officials said “a major announcement” would be made in a week or two. It is not clear if some of that initial supply would be for Hong Kong.

Vaccines from any place could be considered on a case-by-case basis … if there is an unmet medical need for the product in a public health emergency

Sabrina Chan, Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in her policy address last month that Beijing would set aside “a certain amount of vaccines developed or produced in the mainland for use by Hong Kong people when necessary”, but a government source said the amount had not yet been decided.

Health minister Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee said this week that the government had set aside funds to purchase enough vaccines for twice the city’s population of 7.5 million, and that the supplies were expected sometime next year.

She said about 3 million people would have priority to be vaccinated, including health care workers, the elderly and care home employees.

While Western countries are seen as having an advantage in the race to secure vaccines amid the worsening pandemic, China, Russia and India are also developing their own drugs aimed at preventing the coronavirus.