Coronavirus vaccine by Pfizer and BioNtech has received another blow amidst a number of controversies. Hong Kong has suspended the use of the vaccine by Pfizer on March 24, 2021. The vaccine was distributed by the Chinese pharmaceutical firm Fasun Pharma. The use of the vaccine was suspended after reports of defective packaging and lose vial lids were found in one of the two batches of the vaccine.
This means that the residents of Hong Kong will only be able to get the Sinovac vaccine which is made in China. Reports say that it has an efficacy rate of 62 percent compared to the 97percent of Pfizer. Sinovac vaccine had also faced criticism after seven people who were vaccinated had died. But the authorities said that the deaths were not related to the vaccine. The government launched the vaccination drive in February and this was when a number of people with pre-existing conditions had hoped to get inoculated.
But after looking at the reports that people with pre-existing conditions had died days after receiving the vaccine, a number of people lost the trust on it and decided not to get inoculated and would observe the situation instead. The vaccination campaigns began on February 26, 2021 and nearly 5.7 percent of the residents of Hong Kong have received the vaccine which is 7.2 million people.
The rate is much higher for Singapore, which started the vaccination program a few days before, but has already administered the vaccines to more than 13 percent of the population of 5.7 million people. The government has also allowed to expand the range of people who could get vaccinated. People 30 years of age and above can now get inoculated after people above 60 were prioritized. Now the government is also considering to administer vaccines to people above 16 years of age. It is also said that the slow administration of the vaccine could also slow the economic recovery of the city.
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