Hong Kong halts some Pfizer/BioNTech jabs, investigates packaging

Hong Kong government on Tuesday had received notice from the distributor of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the city and Macau. The packaging defects had been found in a COVID-19 vaccine batch – #210102 – related to the closure of bottles.

The city authorities said in the statement that it halts some Pfizer/BioNTech jabs, investigates packaging. The suspension comes as the Asian financial hub has faced a sluggish take-up of jabs due to dwindling confidence in China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd drug and fears of adverse reactions.

Last month, Hong Kong has rolled out its nationwide inoculation campaign. The residents were vaccinated with doses from Sinovac. In March, the state-city received its first package of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has shown greater take-up since its launch with the number of residents booking that shot more than double those booking Sinovac over the past week, according to statistics.