BioNTech Vaccination Resumption in Hong Kong

[shri]

Spotted this (speculation?) in The Standard - splitting this out from the press conference thread, which is a bit overrun.

Keeping this locked until we have some real news on the reopening / investigation results.

Experts are hopeful that resumption can take place by next Wednesday, meaning those who received their first dose on March 10 - the first day of the public rollout - can get their second dose after 21 days.

They reassured the public the efficacy of vaccines will not be affected as long as the second dose is administered within 49 days.

Infectious disease expert Ho Pak-leung from the University of Hong Kong believes the investigation will not take long.

"I think the outcome could lie in the packaging section of the production line," he said. "It's very unlikely the investigation would discover a big problem."

Medical Conscience chairman David Lam Tzit-yuen, in charge of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium vaccination center slated to begin BioNTech inoculations on Monday, said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the center will open.

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/secti...BioNTech-probe

[shri]

Reuters and a few other sources are reporting this:

In a statement published late on Saturday, the city’s government said the investigation results did not rule out that the situation was “caused by environmental conditions during the long-haul transport process.”


It was not related to the cold-chain and logistical management of the vaccine and random testing of intact vials delivered to Hong Kong did not uncover any issue of leakage, it said.

Both Fosun and BioNTech considered the vaccines to have no safety risks and people who have received them “do not need to worry”, the government said.

The remaining part of the investigation will focus on “ascertaining the integrity of the intrinsic properties of the relevant batches of vaccine, and that the batches are safe for use.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...KBN2BK00G?il=0

[shri]

Govt press release:

According to the initial investigation results, Fosun and German drug manufacturer BioNTech considered that there is no evidence indicating any safety risks of the BioNTech vaccines delivered to Hong Kong (batch no. 210102 and 210104). Members of the public who have received the BioNTech vaccines do not need to worry.

The subsequent investigation work will mainly target on ascertaining the integrity of the intrinsic properties of the relevant batches of vaccine, and that the batches are safe for use. The Government is actively following up with Fosun and German manufacturer BioNTech to strive to complete the investigation procedures within a week.

The Government will also keep close liaison with the supplier on the supply of the remaining doses of vaccine, with a view to ensuring that implementation of the vaccination programme in Hong Kong can be continued.

As regards the other vaccine doses which were delivered to Hong Kong, random sample testing of vaccine vials which are intact did not uncover any issue of vaccine leakage.

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...1032700785.htm

[shri]

Looks like the Wednesday resumption was over optimistic.

Saw this come through today.

For an appointment scheduled for Wednesday - 31/03 ( )

[COVID-19 Vaccination]
Cancellation of BioNTech vaccination bookings, rescheduling arrangement to be separately notified

Owing to packaging problem with the vial cap of BioNTech vaccine, government has suspended the administering of the vaccine on precautionary ground, as requested by BioNTech and Fosun Pharma, pending completion of their investigation into the matter. Your booking for BioNTech vaccination has been cancelled and you should therefore not go to the vaccination centre. We will separately notify you of the rescheduling arrangement. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
[Do not reply]

[shri]

that was received for both 1st time and 2nd dose appointments for Wednesday.

[Cheeky Kiwi]

Yes I was due for 2nd dose on 31/3 and got the SMS at 5ish-pm.

[JAherbert]

shock horror male with underlying illnesses has died, RIP. But the reporting is stupid........

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...9-20210328.htm

[aw451]

shock horror male with underlying illnesses has died, RIP. But the reporting is stupid........

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...9-20210328.htm

It's just irresponsible reporting since they never provide enough context and just focus on the shocking "someone died".

It's a global problem but seems especially bad in HK these days because society is split into two polar opposites and everything is politicised by both sides. It's not really worth reading the news about HK anymore because trying to read between the lines gets exhausting.

[shri]

Original Post Deleted

Announcement sort of made today: https://geoexpat.com/forum/newpostinthread360221.html

[timonoj]

Pretty much nothing specific yet right? "VERY SOON!" But...nothing new since yesterday, we already knew this much.