Coronavirus: Hong Kong expert in vaccine-mixing research to study case of man who got three doses involving Sinovac, BioNTech

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

The man had received a Sinovac shot in between two BioNTech jabs without telling medical staff about his vaccination history

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

Published: 10:45pm, 19 Apr 2021Updated: 12:41pm, 20 Apr 2021

A medical expert leading a study on mixing Covid-19 vaccines in Hong Kong will look into a rare case of a 32-year-old man in the city who had received three shots of two different coronavirus drugs.

Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai from the University of Hong Kong, who is also co-convenor of the government panel on vaccine effects, said his team would meet the man this week at Queen Mary Hospital to conduct tests.

“It is on the request of the Department of Health that we follow up on the case. It is not part of our research,” Hung said. “Basically, we will do some blood tests and check his antibody levels. If he does not show adverse reactions, then, there should not be any major problem for now. But longer term observation would still be needed before any conclusion can be reached.”

Health officials reported on Sunday that the man had received three vaccine doses. He was given a first shot of the German-made BioNTech vaccine at a community centre on March 12. He then went to a private clinic on March 28 and received a Chinese-made Sinovac shot, without disclosing his previous BioNTech jab.

The private doctor reported the man after checking the patient’s electronic vaccination record, but only after the Sinovac jab had been administered. The doctor told him not to receive another dose of Covid-19 vaccine but he went ahead two weeks later with a third jab – this time BioNTech – and did not tell staff at the centre about his vaccination history.