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Published: 10:01, February 16, 2023 | Updated: 10:31, February 16, 2023
COVID vaccines: HK govt advisers find no new safety signal
By Wang Zhan
Published:10:01, February 16, 2023 Updated:10:31, February 16, 2023 By Wang Zhan

A medical worker prepares a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a community vaccination center in Hong Kong, Feb 25, 2022. (PHOTO / AP)

HONG KONG – Government advisers have found no new significant safety signal in their latest benefit-risk analysis of two COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Hong KongComirnaty and Sinovac.

Continuous monitoring is still required, the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines concluded at a meeting on Wednesday. The convener of the committee, Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing, chaired the meeting.

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After reviewing all the latest clinical information, and real-world data on efficacy and safety, including safety reports submitted by vaccine makers related to the two vaccines, the panel said the benefits of the two vaccines outweighed the risks.

Comirnaty and Sinovac vaccines were authorized for use in the city on Jan 25 and Feb 18, 2021 respectively

The advisers recommended that there is no need to make changes regarding the use of the two vaccines, according to a government news release.

The panel will submit its views to the secretary for health for consideration, it added.

"The government will continue to ensure that the authorized vaccines satisfy the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality, and disseminate the latest safety and scientific information on the relevant vaccines to the public and relevant stakeholders in a timely manner," said a government spokesman.

The quality of the Comirnaty and Sinovac vaccines imported has already passed the certification and appropriate testing for quality control. 

Comirnaty vaccine was authorized for use in the city on Jan 25 and Sinovac got approval on Feb 18, 2021. Subsequently, the pediatric and toddler formulations of the Comirnaty vaccine were authorized on Sept 30, 2022 and the Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine on Nov 10, 2022. 

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To comply with the conditions of authorization, vaccine makers are required to submit the latest clinical data on the vaccines, safety update reports, quality certification documents, etc. for continuous review and monitoring.

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