(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government has procured enough COVID-19 vaccines to cover Hong Kong’s population after reaching a purchase agreement with another drug manufacturer to supply 7.5 million doses, bringing the total to 22.5 million.

During a press conference today, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the latest agreement is with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca which jointly developed the vaccine with Oxford University.

The AstraZeneca agreement is in addition to two previous agreements reached separately with Mainland-based Sinovac Biotech and German firm BioNTech for the purchase of 7.5 million doses each and Mrs Lam noted another supply source is being explored.

“We have now purchased enough vaccines to serve the whole of the Hong Kong population. We will continue to find a fourth technology so that we can 100% meet our scientific committee’s recommendations in ensuring that the Hong Kong people will get adequate coverage."

The Chief Executive added the vaccination programme will be guided by objective scientific data, and cautioned against placing too much emphasis on where the vaccine was manufactured.

“It is a question of public education, which will of course be based on objective scientific data and explanation, that when one looks at the vaccine, it is the safety, the efficacy and the quality. It is not a particular place. It is not a particular sentiment of where you want that vaccine to come from."

The Government today gazetted the Prevention & Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap 599K), which provides the legal framework under the present state of public health emergency to bring in COVID-19 vaccines which satisfy the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality for emergency use. 

The regulation will remain in effect until December 23, 2021.