Coronavirus: fresh shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech shots to arrive in Hong Kong, ‘details of scheme resumption out on Thursday’
- Authorities hope to resume vaccinations using the German-made doses early next week, according to minister, while source says fresh shipment to arrive Friday
- Health officials confirm six new cases, five of which are imported, with sole local case triggering partial evacuation of building in Sai Ying Pun
While Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-yuen could not specify on Wednesday how many doses were expected nor the exact day of the delivery, a source told the Post they would arrive from the manufacturer in Germany on Friday. Details of the resumption of the roll-out were expected to be released on Thursday, the insider added.
“The government is in close contact with Fosun, the agent of the vaccine, and will follow up with the delivery of a new batch of vaccines. If everything is smooth, vaccinations are likely to resume early next week,” Nip said in a Facebook post.
Distribution of the vaccine was abruptly put on hold last Wednesday on the advice of its supplier after the scheme’s frontline staff identified more than 50 defects to vials, including cracks, leaks and stains on their exterior. In Hong Kong, Fosun Pharma is in charge of delivering the jab jointly developed by BioNTech and US-based Pfizer.
The daily caseload continued to ease, with health authorities confirming six new coronavirus cases, five of which were imported. The sole local case, which was untraceable, involved a 26-year-old man living in a Sai Ying Pun building, which was partially evacuated over fears the virus might be spreading through vertical transmission.
More than 10 people also tested preliminary-positive, including two with no clear source of infection.
Fosun said on Tuesday a new batch of doses was ready to be shipped, pending the results of an ongoing investigation into the packaging defects.