Additional CoronaVac vaccine doses purchased by Government and new batch of vaccines arrives in Hong Kong
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A new batch (the eighth consignment) of 500 000 doses of the CoronaVac vaccine has been delivered to Hong Kong from Beijing today. Soon after the arrival of the vaccine, staff carried out stringent checking and inspection on the vaccine in accordance with established procedures to ensure that it complies with the product specifications and that the transportation process follows the relevant cold-chain requirements. This batch of vaccine was packaged in accordance with the requirements of COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX). The package insert is slightly different from the Hong Kong version, but like those batches which have been used in Hong Kong, this batch was manufactured by the same manufacturer, and filled and finished at the same plant with the same specifications and formulation in the Mainland. The information of COVID-19 vaccines authorised under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K) can be found from the website of the Food and Health Bureau (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/our_work/health/rr3.html).
"Under the threat posed by highly transmissible mutant virus strains, eligible persons, both young and old, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection. Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are safe and highly effective in protecting against severe disease and death from COVID-19 infection. The purchase of about 1 million extra doses of the CoronaVac vaccine aims to ease the gradually increasing public demand. We appeal to members of the public who have not received the first and second doses of vaccination to do so early so as to protect themselves, their family members and the community. In addition, more persons will be eligible to receive the third dose of a vaccine later with their second dose received for more than six months. If we have to cater for third dose vaccination and those who delayed their first and second doses at the same time, it might be possible that both vaccination appointments and vaccines will be in tight supply," a spokesman for the Government said.
Details of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, February 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:30
Issued at HKT 19:30
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