New law to approve emergency use of Covid vaccines

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced today that the Executive Council has approved the enactment of new regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance to allow emergency usage of the Covid vaccines.

Lam has also revealed that the government has reached an agreement with a third pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in acquiring 7.5 million doses of their Covid vaccines, which was co-developed by Oxford University.

The vaccine is developed from the non-replicating viral vector technology platform.

The number of vaccines procured by the government so far is enough for all citizens in Hong Kong.

The new legislative work for introducing the vaccines into Hong Kong will last for 12 months until December 23 next year. The vaccines must be proven to be safe and effective before being put into use.

The proposed legislative framework will empower the Secretary for Food & Health, on the premise that the relevant vaccine has received a drug regulatory authority's endorsement, in accordance with objective medical data of the individual vaccine including making reference to the expert views of an independent expert advisory panel, to allow the relevant vaccine to be put to designated use in Hong Kong.

An amendment made to the current Ordinance will also empower the Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee to extend the quarantine period for arrivals in Hong Kong to a maximum of 28 days if necessary.

The current quarantine period at designated hotels for arrivals from the UK will also be extended to 21 days from the original 14 days.

The Chief Executive earlier said citizens will not be able to choose which vaccine they would like to receive, she explained today that citizens in fact can have their own choice in the type of vaccines they will get.

“Authorities will later announce the time, location and type of vaccines used within the vaccination program, those who wish to get the jab can choose accordingly. What I said earlier simply meant different types of vaccines would not be available at the same location at the same time,” said Lam.

The government also plans to set up an indemnity fund to provide financial support for those who are affected by severe side effects after vaccination.

Officials said they are ironing out the details and would reveal more when they seek funding from the Legislative Council.