Official blames late start of vaccination programme on logistics

January 22, 2021 11:25

Health Secretary Sophia Chan said logistics of vaccines, in particular for BioNTech, is very challenging. Photo: RTHK/Reuters

When grilled on why Hong Kong has been slower to kickoff the Covid vaccination programme compared to other places like Singapore, Health Secretary Sophia Chan put the blame on logistics issues, according to RTHK reports.

“We have to rely on the vaccine manufacturers to let us know when they can deliver the vaccines. In particular, for BioNTech, the logistics are actually very challenging, because of [the requirement for the vaccines to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius," she said.

The government has so far secured three types of vaccines.

Mainland-manufactured Sinovac jabs were scheduled to be the first to arrive – by end of this month. But the lack of sufficient clinical data is holding up the approval process.

Vaccines from BioNTech are expected to arrive in late Feburary, and the government said it is trying to see if there is a chance to bring the date forward.

Vaccines from AstraZeneca has also been arranged and the government is in talks to buy from a fourth supplier.

-- Contact us at [email protected]

Hong Kong

Integration of GIS and BIM can drive development of smart city Dr. Winnie Tang

The China Association for Geospatial Industry and Sciences (“the CAGIS”) released the Top Ten Highlights of China's Geographic Information Industry in 2023, which provides much inspiration. The

Equip young people for the future Dr. Winnie Tang

In late February, the inaugural flight of an air taxi from Shenzhen Shekou Cruise Homeport to Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port took only 20 minutes with an estimated one-way ticket price of 200 to 300 yuan per

Are we raising a generation of leaders, or of followers? Brian YS Wong

The essence of education is defined not by the facts it imparts, but the potential knowledge it inspires students to individually pursue on their own. Put it this way – the ideal form of education

The urgent need for reforms to sex education in Hong Kong Sharon Chau

Nearly one in every four university students (23%) in Hong Kong has been sexually harassed, according to a 2019 report published by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). A 2019 study found that

STEAM should be linked to real life Dr. Winnie Tang

In the 2017 Policy Address, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education was proposed as one of the eight major directions to promote I&T development. Since then, funding has