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Coronavirus pandemic
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Exclusive | Coronavirus: Hong Kong set to approve Pfizer-BioNTech jab before end of week as deep-freeze storage facility selected

  • Health secretary Sophia Chan could approve use of the vaccine this week, according to a source
  • Kwai Chung warehouse, understood to be run by health care logistics firm, picked by vaccine supplier Fosun Pharma for storage

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Approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected in Hong Kong this week. Photo: AFP
Elizabeth CheungandDanny Lee
Hong Kong is poised to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine before the end of the week as a Kwai Chung warehouse has been selected to store the vials, overcoming a key logistical concern in the scheme to administer the first million doses.

Two official scientific committees have also advised the government to give vaccination priority to four high-risk groups: health care workers, people aged 60 and above, residents and staff of care homes for the elderly and the disabled, and chronically ill patients aged between 16 and 59.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee is set to approve use of the German firm’s vaccine, developed with American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer for the global market except China, paving the way for the first round of 1 million inoculations after Lunar New Year, with high-risk groups such as the elderly and health care workers given priority.

A government source said the vaccine could be approved by the minister this week.

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The Kwai Chung warehouse, understood to be run by a health care logistics firm, was picked by Fosun Pharma, BioNTech’s partner in China, a source with direct knowledge of the logistics plan said. The logistics firm is responsible for the cold-chain management, storage, repackaging and distribution of the jab.

There had been concerns about storage of the vaccine, which needs to be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius and thawed before use.

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The warehouse has about 13 to 15 refrigerators capable of storing items at minus 70 degrees. The site is also equipped with a facility at 2 to 8 degrees where thawing and repackaging can be done.

“Repackaging of those vaccines must be done at this temperature range rather than at room temperature,” the source said, adding the company also held a specific licence from the health authorities for handling the vaccines.

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