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Topline
Hong Kong halted the rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech made Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday after its Chinese distributor informed the government that one batch of the shots had defective bottle lids, representing the first instance where the mRNA vaccine rollout has been hampered due to a manufacturing issue.
A sign is posted at a Covid-19 BioNTech community vaccination centre after the announcement of the … [+]
Key Facts
According to a Hong Kong health ministry press release, the suspension went into effect immediately after the city’s government was informed about the defect and it will remain in place while BioNTech and its Chinese partner Fosun Pharma investigate the issue.
BioNTech and Fosun, however, have not found any reason to believe that the defect may have caused any safety issue, however the use of the vaccine will be halted as a precautionary measure, the release added.
The defective lids were found in one particular batch—number 210102—but the suspension will also be in effect for the other batch—number 210104—Hong Kong has acquired from BioNTech
Macau, which is also administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said its residents will not receive shots from the affected batch, the Associated Press reported.
Suspension of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot means China’s Sinovac vaccine will be the only option available to Hong Kong residents.
Big Number
403,000. That’s the total number of people in Hong Kong who have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, the city’s government announced on Tuesday night. Of them around 150,200 have received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot while about 252,800 have received the first dose of the Sinovac vaccine.
Key Background
In January, Hong Kong issued emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The city government’s approach was a departure from the one used in mainland China, which has only approved the use of domestically developed vaccines. Hong Kong has also approved the Chinese-made Sinovac shot, however, surveys suggest its residents are less trusting of it, According to a survey reported in January, 56% of people were willing to take the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine while only 29.5% were willing to take the Sinovac shot. The distrust of the Chinese made vaccines comes at a time when Beijing has increasingly taken an assertive role in the special administrative region and has moved to quash anti-government and pro-democracy protests.
Further Reading
Hong Kong halts use of Pfizer vaccine, cites defective lids (Associated Press)
Polls shows Hong Kong residents’ distrust of Chinese vaccines (Reuters)
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