Coronavirus: Hong Kong to donate 7.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to developing countries
- Shots will be given to Covax Facility, an international vaccine distribution initiative co-led by the World Health Organization
- Local health officials also confirm four Covid-19 cases, all imported, involving arrivals from Britain, Indonesia and Russia
The doses, which Hong Kong procured earlier but were not supplied this year to avoid wastage, will be given to the Covax Facility, an international vaccine distribution initiative co-led by the World Health Organization.
“Considering the global epidemic situation is continuing, and Hong Kong’s vaccine supply is stable and sufficient, I hereby announce that the government has reached a three-party agreement with the Covax Facility and AstraZeneca … to donate 7.5 million AstraZeneca vaccines,” Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said on Tuesday.
Health officials on Tuesday confirmed four Covid-19 cases, all imported, involving arrivals from Britain, Indonesia and Russia. That brought the city’s tally to 12,272 cases, with 213 related deaths. Fewer than five preliminary-positive cases were logged.
In all, 92 low-income and lower-middle-income economies would benefit from the donation, Chan said, adding the vaccines were expected to be delivered in various batches before the second quarter next year.
Quoting information from the WHO, Chan said global vaccine distribution remained unsatisfactory. Just 20 per cent of people in developing countries have received a first dose.
In Hong Kong, 67.5 per cent of eligible people, or about 60.6 per cent of the total population, have received at least one dose. With community and hospital vaccination centres closing at 3pm on Tuesday as Tropical Cyclone Kompasu approached, just 2,822 people received their first dose.