Coronavirus: relief for Pfizer-BioNTech jab takers in Hong Kong but government urged to boost capacity when roll-out resumes

Residents say information provided by authorities over the past few days eased their concerns, after shock of abrupt suspension on Wednesday left many fearful about next step regarding vaccination

Officials had said follow-up BioNTech shot could be administered 19 to 42 days after the first injection and recipients were advised against switching to another type of vaccine for a second dose

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Use of the BioNTech vaccine is on hold in Hong Kong. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 11:40pm, 27 Mar 2021Updated: 6:11pm, 28 Mar 2021

Hongkongers who received the BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine before the roll-out was suspended have urged the government to boost capacity when the inoculation scheme resumes so they can get their second jab within the recommended time.

The government issued a statement on Saturday saying an investigation by BioNTech and its mainland Chinese distributor Fosun Pharma into faulty packaging, which resulted in the vaccine roll-out being put on hold earlier in the week, had found no systemic errors that could have caused the problems.

Civil service chief Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, the top official in charge of Hong Kong’s mass vaccination drive, said he was expecting a preliminary report this week and the city could resume administering the German-made vaccine if no major problems were found.

Residents said information provided by the authorities over the past few days had eased their concerns, after the shock of the abrupt suspension on Wednesday left many fearful about their next step regarding vaccination.

Health officials had earlier said a follow-up BioNTech shot could be administered 19 to 42 days after the first injection and recipients were advised against switching to another type of vaccine for a second dose. Hong Kong offers two vaccines, the BioNTech one and China’s Sinovac, which was rolled out first but has a lower take-up rate. BioNTech developed its vaccine in partnership with US firm Pfizer globally, but Fosun is its partner in China.

Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union chief executive Shum Wai-nam, who got his first shot of the BioNTech vaccine last Monday, said he had been concerned about the availability of his booster jab, which was initially scheduled for April 12.

“The global supply of BioNTech jabs is tight. I took my first dose early because I was worried there would be insufficient supply,” the 34-year-old said.