Hong Kong suspends Pfizer vaccine, which is why

Hong Kong and Macau have suspended the use of the Pfizer / BioNTech coronavirus vaccine after being informed of a packaging problem affecting doses.

Although officials said they did not believe there was a security risk, the ban is the latest blow to efforts to launch mass vaccination programs against a virus that has killed more than 2.7 million people worldwide.

"For the sake of caution, current vaccination should be suspended during the investigation period," the Hong Kong government said in a statement.

This comes a day after health authorities stopped a local clinic from supplying vaccines after one of her doctors publicly said he would choose the Pfizer vaccine over Sinovac.

The two Chinese cities said their decision came after they were contacted about the packaging issue by Fosun, the Chinese pharmaceutical company that is distributing the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine in China.

The doses with part number 210102 were found to have damaged packaging, authorities said.

Statements from Hong Kong and Macau did not provide any details on how the packaging was damaged, but both said they did not believe there was any safety issue. Authorities said they decided to act with suspension until their investigation is completed.

Some Hong Kongers said on social media that their meetings that day had been canceled and that some vaccination centers had been closed. "I have not lost faith in the vaccine, but I am quite disappointed as I did the day off," said one man, who gave his last name as Wong as he arrived at a registered center.

Vaccines with part number 210102 have already been given to members of the public in Hong Kong.

Authorities said another batch of vaccines numbered 210104 would be set aside until the investigation is completed.

Despite being a densely populated city, Hong Kong has kept infections low thanks to some of the most stringent quarantine measures in the world, recording just 11,000 infections and 200 deaths since the pandemic began.

Hong Kong filloi vaksinimin e saj muajin e kaluar, por marrja e vaksinës nga publiku ka qenë e ngadaltë dhe e zënë në grackë nga trazirat politike. Qyteti u përmbyt nga protesta të mëdha dhe shpesh të dhunshme të demokracisë në 2019 të cilave Pekini u është përgjigjur me një shtypje gjithëpërfshirëse të disidencës.

Si rezultat, besimi i publikut në qeverinë e Hong Kongut është i ulët. Një sondazh i fundit tha se vetëm 37% e të rriturve në Hong Kong planifikuan të vaksinohen.

Rreth 403,000 njerëz - rreth 5% e popullsisë së qytetit - janë vaksinuar të parët. Deri të mërkurën, autoritetet ofruan Sinovac të Kinës dhe vaksinën Pfizer / BioNTech.

Sinovac received prompt approval despite not publishing peer-reviewed clinical data. The data show an efficiency rate of 50-80%, depending on the studies. Pfizer says its efficiency rate is 94-95%.

The vaccination scheme opened to anyone over the age of 30 last week after officials tried to attract quite a few elderly people and those in the primary groups.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has previously complained about the lukewarm enthusiasm for vaccination and accused critics of "painting" the Chinese vaccine.

Source: The Guardian