No jab-switch rush as docs see swift BioNTech probe

Doctors are optimistic that inoculation using the BioNTech/Fosun vaccine will resume soon after its shock suspension due to packaging issues as people adopt a wait-and-see attitude instead of rushing to get mainland-made Sinovac jabs.

Another one million Sinovac doses arrived in Hong Kong yesterday.

The government on Wednesday suspended inoculation of the BioNTech vaccine after Fosun Pharma - the German pharmaceutical's partner for the mainland, Macau and Hong Kong - spotted packaging defects in one of two batches of vaccines delivered to the two SARs.

Experts are hopeful that resumption can take place by next Wednesday, meaning those who received their first dose on March 10 - the first day of the public rollout - can get their second dose after 21 days.

They reassured the public the efficacy of vaccines will not be affected as long as the second dose is administered within 49 days.

Infectious disease expert Ho Pak-leung from the University of Hong Kong believes the investigation will not take long.

"I think the outcome could lie in the packaging section of the production line," he said. "It's very unlikely the investigation would discover a big problem."

Medical Conscience chairman David Lam Tzit-yuen, in charge of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium vaccination center slated to begin BioNTech inoculations on Monday, said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the center will open.

Meanwhile, there was no rush to book Sinovac jabs yesterday.

Eight centers offering CoronaVac still had many available slots, with three showing all dates in green - meaning an abundance of free slots.

An expat from the catering industry said he had booked his first dose of BioNTech for next week and hoped he could benefit from less frequent virus tests after completing both doses.

"I'm disappointed," he said. "I'll see if they reopen BioNTech next week but I'm not switching to Sinovac now."

Private doctor Edmond Lam Wing-wo said he had received inquiries from people who got the first dose of BioNTech, asking whether they could take the mainland-made CoronaVac as their second jab.

"We do not allow mixing two types of vaccines for the time being," he said, adding it is likely inoculations will resume shortly.

Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen and Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said they wanted to apologize for the confusion in suspending BioNTech jabs an hour later than Macau.

Those affected by the suspension will be given a new vaccination date and need not register online again. Phone messages were sent out yesterday.

As of Wednesday, 412,800 people had received their first doses, including 261,500 opting for CoronaVac and 151,300 BioNTech.

Hong Kong reported its 11th post-jab death in a 59-year-old man who collapsed while hiking in Sai Kung yesterday.

He was certified dead after being rushed to hospital.

The man received a BioNTech jab on March 18 and is the second person to pass away after taking the German-made shot.

jane.cheung@singtaonewscorp.com