SCMP
18 Jan 2021
The Pfitzer-Biontech Covid19 vaccine developed by the US and Germany has become the first to apply for an emergency roll-out in Hong Kong and a government panel will decide as early as Monday whether to recommend its use amid confusion over efficacy of the jab from China’s Sinovac.
Hong Kong aims to roll out the inoculation programme after the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February and high-risk groups such as the elderly and health care workers will be given priority for vaccination.
In an interview with the Post, experts on the panel would not jump to any conclusion on reports from Brazilian clinical trials that CoronaVac, developed by Sinovac, was just over 50 per cent effective – far less than previously suggested – citing a lack of comprehensive data.
But the panel pledged to be transparent on decisions regarding vaccine applications and all evaluation reports would be made public.
Hong Kong aims to roll out the inoculation programme after the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February and high-risk groups such as the elderly and health care workers will be given priority for vaccination.
Read the article here.