Sinovac labs in mainland China Photo: Reuters
Responding to criticism bordering on outrage about lack of clarity and apparent inaction on Covid-19 vaccines, Chief Executive Carrie Lam held a press conference yesterday (11/12). The Government had reached advance agreements to buy 7.5 million Covid-19 jabs each from two manufacturers, Sinovac Biotech and Pfizer-BioNTech. A deal is also being sort with a third pharmaceutical firm for the same number of injections.
The first batches of Chinese vaccines will arrive next month with the P-B ones a month or two later. The jabs will be offered first to the most vulnerable, medical staff and caregivers and the elderly.
“Free vaccines will be provided to Hong Kong citizens, so that lives will return to normal as soon as possible, so that we can resume cross-boundary activities and businesses gradually,” Ms Lam said.
She wondered rhetorically at the press conference, “How can we convince the people of Hong Kong that if it is a mainland vaccine, it is safe to use? My response is do not get involved in politics. . . This is about science, this is about evidence, the experts will look at it. And these drugs will be authorised for use not only in Hong Kong but in other places in the world. . .”
Ms Lam explained she was talking about “advance purchases” because the vaccines had yet to complete several things. “First is the clinical trial, the other is authorisation in their respective jurisdictions, and finally is on to the market. So our agreement is also subject to (whether) these chosen vaccines have competed these aspects of work.”
HONG KONG BUZZ has joined other critics in attacking the Lam administration for lack of clarity on vaccine purchase. The letters column of the SCMP, among others, has been aflame with outcry from angry readers. BUZZ has repeatedly sent copies of its stories covering the criticism to the offices of the CEO and the Health Bureau secretary with the blunt message, “The Government had better respond to this criticism because outrage is growing in the community”. Nothing has come back except acknowledgements. Yesterday Ms Lam did act with her press conference, addressing the criticism on Covid-19 and providing some reassurance to a concerned, frightened city.
Be the first to comment