bc magazine

Cathay Pacific Vaccination Draw Scam

With little confidence in the government’s Covid-19 response, too many HongKongers have still not got vaccinated. Quite why, when the Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty vaccine is produced and tested in the regulatory intense European Union and is free, I don’t understand.

Rather than make vaccination mandatory pressure was put on companies to ‘bribe’ HongKongers with lucky draws and prizes for getting vaccinated. Among those deciding to participate was Cathay Pacific who offered “25,000 free tickets to over 50 destinations. You can enter the lucky draw between 16 September and 30 September, 2021.”

Not one to turn down the chance of a free flight ticket I entered. With the entry closing date the 30 September 2021 and the Cathay website indicating “The results will be drawn on 5 October, 2021 and announced on the Cathay website.”

So I was more than a little surprised this morning (29 September) to receive an email from Cathay informing me that I was not a winner, but that they would keep sending me promotional material – something I specifically opted out of.

unfortunately, you weren’t chosen as a winner on this occasion.

“weren’t chosen” in the email also seems to imply that the draw is not random, but prizes are issued to Asia Miles members (needed to enter the draw) with accounts that Cathay wants to reward.

bc has approached Cathay for comment and will update this article if one is recieved.

The draws maybe a scam for your personal data, but getting vaccinated will reduce your chance of getting Covid-19 and reduce in most cases the seriousness of the infection. Get Vaccinated!!

‘Vaccine Bubble’ Quarantine Arrangements

The Government today, 15, April, announced plans to shorten the quarantine period for fully vaccinated persons arriving from non-very high-risk overseas places on the basis of the “vaccine bubble”.

“As the global epidemic situation remains severe with the new virus variants still ravaging many parts of the world, the Government needs to maintain the 21-day compulsory quarantine requirement for persons who have stayed in high-risk places outside China. ”

“However, considering that the epidemic situations in certain places have stabilised and pose lower public health risks, with reference to the ‘vaccine bubble’ concept, the Government will adjust the quarantine arrangements for persons who have stayed in overseas places other than extremely high-risk and very high-risk places under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C), the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) and Cap. 599H,” said the spokesman.

“The basic boarding and quarantine requirements will remain unchanged for high-risk and medium-risk places (i.e. Group B and Group C specified places), but the Government will supplement in due course new arrangements applicable to fully vaccinated persons and shorten the compulsory quarantine period for the relevant persons from 21 days to 14 days under the “vaccine bubble” concept.

As for low-risk Group D specified places (i.e. Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore), the compulsory quarantine period for fully vaccinated persons will also be correspondingly shortened from 14 days to seven days in due course.

Persons that have completed quarantine under the adjusted Group B, Group C and Group D requirements will be required to self-monitor for seven days and undergo compulsory testing after their shortened quarantine.”

The Government plans to gazette and effect the new arrangements within about two weeks.

BioNTech (Comirnaty) Vaccination Resumes

BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccination resumed today 5 April, longer lines – which at the time bc’s reporter was there were sadly disproportionately (about 80%) non-ethnic Chinese – meant the queue and injection took around 80 minutes.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210405-11pro-Second-Covid-Vaccination-BionTech-Sai-Yin-Pun/i-XS6wd54

Unfortunately at Sai Yin Pun Vaccination Centre the nurse absolutely refused to allow our reporter to take a photo of themselves getting vaccinated.

We’re not big ‘selfie’ takers, but this seemed a missed opportunity to raise communal awareness of vaccination and maybe counter some of the negative rubbish being spread by the ignorant both in Hong Kong and abroad.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/20210405-11pro-Second-Covid-Vaccination-BionTech-Sai-Yin-Pun/i-w86Rq7j

While the vaccine is not yet a cure, it can and will save lives! Not only of those who get infected but also of those whose jobs, livelihoods and mental health have been destroyed over the last year!

PLEASE GET VACCINATED!!! Make a booking here www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Fosun BioNTech Batch No 210102 – Update

At today’s daily press conference the Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip said the Hong Kong Government had received notice from Fosun Pharma/BionTech that there may be a problem with the packaging with Comirnaty batch number 210102.

BioNTech requested that vaccinations stop during the investigation period, while stressing that this is just a precaution. The Department of Health (DoH) and the CHP have decided that all local vaccinations in Hong Kong using Fosun BioNTech vaccine known as Comirnaty will stop until further notice.

Director of Health Dr. Constance Chan said the DoH has stringent protocols to monitor the distribution of medications locally.

Hong Kong has imported two batches of BioNTech vaccine:
585,000 doses on 28 February 2021 – Batch Number 210102.
758,000 doses on 7 March 2021 – Batch Number 210104.
150,000 doses from batch number 210102 have been used as of 23 March.

Dr. Chan said since these vaccinations have begun health staff have filed the following reports:
8 incidents when staff found cracks in the container.

22 incidents of leakage due to overpressure in the vile.

16 incidents of loose caps or caps that were not straight were found.

8 incidents where marks or dirt were found on the bottle

To be extra cautious whenever staff found abnormalities, they did not use these viles and threw them away.

Dr. Chan commented that those who have been vaccinated should not worry as there are very strict protocols for the staff to follow. This was echoed by Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan who wanted to remind people that there is no evidence of any problems with the doses already administered to people in Hong Kong.

Thru their distributor Fosun Hong Kong, the Government submitted feedback to the manufacturer BioNTech. The manufacturer recommended Hong Kong suspend use of Batch Number 210102 temporarily. Batch Number 210104 is still in the warehouse and Fosun recommended that this batch not be used for the moment too. Dr. Constance Chan said that they will await the report from BioNTech as to whether batch 210104 can be used. If not, this batch will be returned, and HKGOV will request a new batch from BioNTech.

 This morning an investigation was launched by the DoH. Fosun will request BioNTech to review the procedures inside their manufacturing plant. While locally Fosun will review the arrival procedures to see if their handling in Hong Kong had anything to do with these events.

Beyond those waiting for their first dose are those waiting for the second dose. The first group of which are scheduled for this Saturday, 27 March. The DoH is pressuring BioNTech for a prompt response and report. Currently, the DoH procedure is to administer the 2nd doses on day 21. Although there are studies and recommendations that suggest the second dose be effective up to Day 42. Dr. Chan said the DoH preference is to continue with day 21 but this all depends on what the manufacturer says.

Statement from Fosun Pharma

Fosun received written notice from BioNTech on the evening of 23 March 2021 informing them that there may be a “small number of defects related to the cap of the vial” in batch number 210102.

Fosun added that “As, at the date of this announcement, there is no evidence to suggest that the safety of the relevant batches of product may be at risk.”

Fosun BioNTech Batch No 210102

The Governments of HKSAR and Macao SAR have temporarily suspended Covid-19 vaccinations using Comirnaty.

A press release issued by the Hong Kong Government at 10am 24 March, read below or here, said that it had received notice from the manufacturer that there may be a packaging defect with the closure of the medicine bottle.

For the sake of caution, the government has decided to suspend all vaccinations using this type of vaccine during the investigation period.

BionTech and Fosun Pharma have not found any reasons to believe safety has been compromised. The Department of Health will be having an emergency meeting with the distributors to understand the incident.

Hong Kong currently has two batches of vaccine including Batch Number 210102 (expires 21 June) and 210104. Batch number 210104 will remain sealed and unused until an investigation has been carried out.

For those already vaccinated, which includes bc magazine staff, there has been no notification from the manufacturer that the improper closure is harmful. It may though affect the efficacy of the vaccine.

Suspension of BioNTech vaccination

*****************************

The Government received written notification from Fosun Industrial Co., Limited this morning (March 24) that as notifications of observed deviations in the vial seal of Comirnaty vaccine (BioNTech) product (batch 210102 (Expiry 06/2021)) were received, BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have initiated an investigation to identify the root cause of these packaging issues. For the sake of prudence, the concerned vaccination should be suspended immediately for the time being while investigation is ongoing.

So far, BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have no reason to believe that there is a risk to product safety. However, for the sake of prudence, vaccination of the batch 210102 should be suspended until the investigation is completed. Meanwhile, batch 210104, another batch of BioNTech vaccines procured by Hong Kong, should also be put on hold and not be administered. This is a precautionary measure to continuously ensure vaccine safety.

As BioNTech vaccines procured by Hong Kong belong to the above batches, all Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) stopped vaccinating BioNTech vaccine with immediate effect today until further notice. Those who have made appointments to receive BioNTech vaccination from today onwards need not go to CVC for vaccination.

The Department of Health will hold an urgent meeting with Fosun Industrial Co., Limited today to obtain further details of the incident and discuss on the follow up measures.

This post will be updated as more information is available:
Edited 13:42 added English press release and link

For more information on Covid-19 in Hong Kong see the government website www.coronavirus.gov.hk