Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after receiving vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 today (September 15):
 
Reporter: Regarding the reasons behind procuring Sinovac vaccines for the first time, could you explain what is the rationale behind? Out of the 300 000 doses of Sinovac vaccines procured by the Government, how many of them will be supplied to schools? Are there any concerns expressed by the schools? Will they be given options to pick other brands? Also, regarding the lack of specific clinical trial data on pregnant women, why hasn't the administration ban them from taking the Sinovac vaccines? Do you think that the lack of data would affect public choice?
 
Secretary for Health: I have to emphasise that the procurement process for vaccines is based on special requirements submitted by our experts in the Department of Health. All vaccines that are registered and approved in Hong Kong – only these vaccines would be eligible in the tendering and procurement process. Regarding the reasons we choose vaccines from different sources, this is a very important strategy when we are deciding on mass procurement for the benefit of the situation, like the seasonal influenza. There is a specific time limit for vaccination, and we have to ensure that we have a diversified source to make sure we have adequate supply of vaccines within that specific time. That's one of the reasons we would not just put all eggs in one basket. We would diversify the sources, especially the Sinovac. The procurement and tendering processes of Sinovac vaccines are all in accordance with rules and regulations. We are glad that there is a source of vaccines from our Motherland. It will give us more confidence in the supply.
 
     During the COVID-19 epidemic, we used Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, we have used over nine million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines – the same inactivated virus, the same platform with very high safety and advocacy profile. It gives us more confidence, and will provides us better strategy in the future to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines, and maybe for other healthcare products as well. We have a good source of supply and more diversified supplies. For emerging communicable diseases, it is even more important that we have a stable source. Remember during the COVID-19 time, there was a difficulty in getting supply of these new COVID-19 vaccines, and this was a global problem. That's why we have to address this issue.

     For the children, they will be given either the choices of inactivated virus vaccine injection, or the nasal form of vaccines. They have the choice, but as I have already emphasised, the choice is based on medical reasons. There are different platforms of vaccines, different sources and ways of administration. We do not need to choose the brand. Choosing brand is not what we are looking forward to. We have to emphasise that all inactivated form of vaccines in Hong Kong are safe and effective, and they are suitable for our children.

     For pregnant ladies, all pharmaceutical companies, including vaccine manufacturers, when they are conducting the clinical trials, they may not include specific groups in the trials. That's why for the Sinovac vaccines, they did not include pregnant women in their indication, but it doesn't mean that this vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy, it is not a contraindication. Pregnancy is not a contraindication for this vaccine. But because it is not included in the indication, we would advise pregnant ladies to consult doctors. After they receive advices from the doctors, they would be able to choose the vaccines – not because of the brand, but the medical reasons. I have emphasised again that, we have to make a choice for vaccines for medical reasons, but not for choosing the brand. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Ends/Monday, September 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 22:41

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