{"id":110651,"date":"2021-03-28T00:50:57","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T00:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=110651"},"modified":"2021-03-28T00:50:57","modified_gmt":"2021-03-28T00:50:57","slug":"hong-kong-says-initial-investigation-of-biontech-vaccines-shows-no-obvious-systemic-factors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/markets\/hong-kong-says-initial-investigation-of-biontech-vaccines-shows-no-obvious-systemic-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong says initial investigation of BioNTech vaccines shows no 'obvious systemic factors'"},"content":{"rendered":"
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong\u2019s government said an initial investigation by Germany\u2019s BioNTech and Fosun Industrial into its coronavirus vaccine did not show any \u201cobvious systemic factors\u201d during packaging after use of the vaccine was suspended in the city and neighbouring Macau this week.<\/p> Authorities on Wednesday halted the use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech citing defective packaging, triggering confusion in inoculation centres across the city.<\/p>\n The suspension came as the Asian financial hub has faced a sluggish take-up of vaccines due to dwindling confidence in China\u2019s Sinovac vaccine and fears of adverse reactions.<\/p>\n In a statement published late on Saturday, the city\u2019s government said the investigation results did not rule out that the situation was \u201ccaused by environmental conditions during the long-haul transport process.\u201d<\/p>\n It was not related to the cold-chain and logistical management of the vaccine and random testing of intact vials delivered to Hong Kong did not uncover any issue of leakage, it said.<\/p>\n Both Fosun and BioNTech considered the vaccines to have no safety risks and people who have received them \u201cdo not need to worry\u201d, the government said.<\/p>\n The remaining part of the investigation will focus on \u201cascertaining the integrity of the intrinsic properties of the relevant batches of vaccine, and that the batches are safe for use.\u201d<\/p>\n The government said it was following up with Fosun and BioNTech to complete the investigation within a week to allow for a resumption of supplying the vaccines to the public.<\/p>\n The city started vaccinating residents with doses from Sinovac in February and began offering the one developed by BioNTech in March.<\/p>\n The BioNTech vaccine is distributed in Hong Kong and Macau via a partnership with China\u2019s Fosun Pharma, while BioNTech partners with Pfizer in markets outside greater China.<\/p>\n