Update on monitoring COVID-19 vaccination
*****************************************
As at 8pm on February 28, around 20.70 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered for members of the public. Around 6.91 million people had received at least one dose of vaccine, including 95.1 per cent of the population aged 12 or above. The DH received 8 104 reports of adverse events (0.04 per cent of the total vaccine doses administered). Among the death cases concerning persons who had been vaccinated, including 120 cases (Note 2) with vaccination within 14 days before they passed away (0.0006 per cent of the total vaccine doses administered), none of the death cases were associated with vaccination.
As of today, the Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunisation had concluded that 117 death cases had no causal relationship with vaccination, while for two cases the causal relationship with vaccination could not be established (Note 3), and preliminarily considered that one case was not associated with vaccination. The Expert Committee considered that there is no unusual pattern identified so far, and will continue to closely monitor the relevant situation and collect data for assessment.
According to information from the HA, during the period from January 26 to February 28, 2023, the overall ratio of death cases was 54.9 cases for every 100 000 people, whereas the average ratio of death cases for the same period in 2018 to 2020 was 66.7 cases for every 100 000 people. Among these death cases, the ratio of death cases with acute stroke or acute myocardial infarction was 2.9 cases for every 100 000 people, whereas the average ratio of death cases under the same category for the same period in 2018 to 2020 was 4.3 cases for every 100 000 people. Furthermore, the ratio of miscarriage cases was 13.2 cases for every 100 000 people, whereas the average ratio of miscarriage cases for the same period in 2018 to 2020 was 24.9 cases for every 100 000 people. Based on the statistical analysis of the above figures, there is no evidence that vaccination increases the risk of death or miscarriage for recipients. The relevant reference statistics will be uploaded to the thematic website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
The majority of non-death cases of adverse events received so far are relatively minor cases. The relevant details can be found in the "Report on the Safety Monitoring of COVID-19 Vaccines in Hong Kong" (www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/Safety_Monitoring_of_COVID-19_Vaccines_in_Hong_Kong.pdf ).
A Government spokesman said, "Although Hong Kong has resumed to full normalcy, COVID-19 infection still poses certain health risks. Currently there is still room for increase in the COVID-19 vaccination rate for high-risk persons such as the elderly and children. According to preliminary data analysis, out of the cases reported in the fifth wave, those who have received three doses of vaccines account for a much lower proportion among reported cases, and an extremely low proportion among the hospitalised critical/serious and deceased cases. This demonstrates the efficacy of three doses of vaccines in preventing infection, serious illness and fatality from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are safe and effective. We suggest members of the public who have not received suitable doses of COVID-19 vaccines, high-risk persons such as the elderly and children in particular, to get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection.
Note 1: Provisional figures. In the preceding month till 11.59pm on February 28, the DH did not receive any reports of suspected myocarditis or pericarditis involving adolescents in the age group of 3 to 15, and did not receive any reports of serious or unexpected adverse events following COVID-19 immunisation for children aged under 3.
Note 2: In the preceding month till 11.59pm on February 28, the DH did not receive any death reports involving individuals who had received COVID-19 vaccination within 14 days before passing away.
Note 3: The case involved an 83-year-old male. The cause of death as shown by the autopsy appears to be acute myocarditis. At the meeting in February, the Expert Committee reviewed the relevant information of the case and considered that a causal relationship between the death and vaccination could not be established. Another case was reported in the press release on June 8, 2022 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202206/08/P2022060800840.htm).
Ends/Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:30
Issued at HKT 19:30
NNNN