Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and other senior government officials take the lead in administering the China-made Coxin Sinovac vaccine (Sinovac).
On Monday (Feb. 22), Carrie Lam and other officials arrived at a vaccination center inside the Hong Kong Central Library to receive the Coxin vaccine.
Reuters reported that the entire process was broadcast live by local television stations in order to boost public confidence in the vaccine. Following Carrie Lam’s vaccination were the Hong Kong government officials, including the Secretary for Food and health, Mr. Chan Siu-chee, and the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung.
At a press conference following the vaccination, Mrs. Lam called on all residents to get vaccinated. She said efforts to combat the outbreak, including the vaccination program, require the full cooperation of Hong Kong people.
The KeXing vaccine is among the new crown vaccines approved for use by the Hong Kong government on an emergency basis. However, the third phase of the Kexing vaccine test data was reportedly not published in international medical journals and did not meet the standards set by the Hong Kong government itself earlier, but was still recommended by the expert committee, raising questions.
Secretary for Food and Health Cecilia Chan told Reuters that the Hong Kong government has not lowered its standards for accepting the vaccine, and Beijing has not pressured for approval of the Kexin vaccine. She said the government is doing its best to reassure residents who received the Kexing vaccine.
The first one million doses of the Kexing vaccine, the first new crown pneumonia vaccine to be launched in Hong Kong, arrived in Hong Kong last Friday by Cathay Pacific Airways from Beijing. The vaccination program in Hong Kong has been open for appointments since the early hours of the 23rd of this month. People in priority groups can make appointments to receive the vaccine, and the earliest they can complete their first dose is the 26th of this month.
Hong Kong has ordered a total of 22.5 million doses of the new crown pneumonia vaccine from Cochin, Pfizer and AstraZeneca. One of the Pfizer/Biotech vaccines arrives in Hong Kong by the end of February. The government says residents will be allowed to choose the type of vaccine.
A poll conducted by the University Of Hong Kong in January found that Hong Kong respondents distrusted the Chinese vaccine and feared it would be ineffective, with only about 30 percent willing to accept the Chinese New Crown vaccine. By contrast, 56 percent of respondents were willing to receive the U.S. Pfizer biotech vaccine.
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