HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s government on Thursday (Feb 18) approved the Chinese-made Sinovac coronavirus vaccine for emergency use after a panel of experts fast-tracked its recommendation despite the drug’s comparatively low efficacy.

The city’s health secretary, Sophia Chan, said the vaccine met the “safety, efficacy and quality requirements specified in Hong Kong emergency situations” and that the benefits outweighed the risks.

Patrick Nip, secretary for civil service, said the government expected to receive 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccines on Friday afternoon with vaccinations expected to start on Feb 26.

READ: Hong Kong holds scaled-down Chinese New Year fairs amid COVID-19, national security law

Chan, who was speaking at a news briefing together with Nip, addressed what she called “doubts” about vaccine safety and said all vaccines authorised by the government have been assessed to be safe by experts.

“The vaccines give us hope of returning to normal lives.”

A Hong Kong government advisory panel on COVID-19 vaccines said on Tuesday it recommended Sinovac vaccine for emergency use.

The recommendation came after the government exempted Sinovac from publishing results of its third phase clinical trials in medical journals due to the “urgency” for vaccination.

The advisory panel said it had received adequate data from the company.

That data, the panel said, showed an efficacy rate of 62.3 per cent when two doses are administered 28 days apart.

Late-stage trials in Brazil had shown an efficacy rate of just above 50 per cent – the threshold the World Health Organization uses to decide if a vaccine is worth using.

READ: China approves Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine for general public use

READ: China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine safe for children, teenagers: State media

The BioNTech vaccine – the first vaccine approved by Hong Kong’s Health department – was required to have results published in a medical journal before being examined by the advisory panel on COVID-19 vaccines.

Nip said the BioNTech vaccine would arrive in Hong Kong before the end of February.

BioNTech has confirmed a 95 per cent protection rate when two shots are administered.

Residents will be able to get vaccinated at 29 centres across the city with five offering Sinovac and 24 offering BioNtech vaccines. Priority will be given to health workers, over 60s and those working in cross-border transportation.

READ: Hong Kong to ease COVID-19 restrictions as daily cases fall

Hong Kong is reducing social distancing rules following a sharp drop in new coronavirus cases, including restarting indoor dining and reopening gyms.

The relaxation that took effect Thursday is a huge relief for the city’s service sector, which has been hammered by periodical closure orders and strict limits on dining out.

Under the new rules, indoor dining is permitted until 10pm with no more than four people allowed at a table. Other outlets allowed to reopen include video arcades, fitness centers, beauty and massage parlors, amusement centers, karaoke bars and sports facilities. Staff at such facilities must undergo a coronavirus test every 14 days.

Public gatherings of more than two people remain prohibited and mask-wearing in public is mandatory until Mar 3.

Source : Malaysiakini