Transcript of remarks by SFH at media session
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Reporter: You mentioned that the preliminary information from the drug company that the white particles could be plastic. Could you tell us more about the impact, if that is the case, what does that mean to human body? You also mentioned that the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health (DH) are tracing back those used doses. Could those people be contacted? What are the follow-up procedures? Will the Government conduct its own extra checks on the existing doses of vaccines in Hong Kong from the same drug company to make sure that everything is alright?
Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, as far as the particles in the vaccines are concerned, although we have received the same batch of vaccines, so far we have not received any reports that Hong Kong's flu vaccines had any particles in them. Secondly, the vaccine company previously said that these could be some particles related to plastics. While their investigation is in progress, they have not submitted the report to us yet. They are now in the process of investigation. We have already requested them to send us a complete investigation report as soon as possible. Once we get the report, we will let the public know the situation. As far as surveillance and checking are concerned, according to the international drug surveillance measures, usually the drug company is responsible to comply with the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) to produce the drug in good practice as well as check the drug before distributing them to the buyers. Therefore, on receiving the drug, the DH would not double-check because the drug company is supposed to do this. Of course, before the vaccine is injected into a patient, usually the healthcare professionals, doctors and nurses, will not only check the name of the vaccine to see whether it is correct, they will also check, by looking at the vaccine itself, to see whether they are any problems. It would be another level of checking. Of course, we appeal to the people in Hong Kong, if they have any problem or feel anything unusual after receiving vaccination, they should seek medical advice.
Reporter: What are the follow-up procedures? So, the authority would not conduct extra checking on the existing doses?
Secretary for Food and Health: Yes, there is no extra checking. As I have said just now, all healthcare professionals, before they inject the drug (into patients), they will check whether there are any irregularities in the vaccines.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Issued at HKT 13:10
Issued at HKT 13:10
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