Remarks by Secretary for Health after getting vaccinations
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Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, at a media session after getting vaccinations versus seasonal influenza and COVID-19 today (September 15):
Press reporter: Regarding the factors behind obtaining Sinovac vaccines for the very first time, could you discuss what is the reasoning behind? Out of the 300 000 dosages of Sinovac vaccines obtained by the Government, the number of them will be provided to schools? Exist any issues revealed by the schools? Will they be offered alternatives to choose other brand names? Relating to the absence of particular scientific trial information on pregnant ladies, why hasn’t the administration restriction them from taking the Sinovac vaccines? Do you believe that the absence of information would impact public option?
Secretary for Health: I need to stress that the procurement procedure for vaccines is based upon unique requirements sent by our professionals in the Department of Health. All vaccines that are signed up and authorized in Hong Kong– just these vaccines would be qualified in the tendering and procurement procedure. Relating to the factors we select vaccines from various sources, this is a really essential technique when we are picking mass procurement for the advantage of the circumstance, like the seasonal influenza. There is a particular time frame for vaccination, and we need to make sure that we have a varied source to make certain we have appropriate supply of vaccines within that particular time. That’s one of the factors we would not simply put all eggs in one basket. We would diversify the sources, specifically the Sinovac. The procurement and tendering procedures of Sinovac vaccines are all in accordance with guidelines and policies. We are delighted that there provides vaccines from our Motherland. It will provide us more self-confidence in the supply.
Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, we utilized Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines. We have actually utilized over 9 million dosages of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines– the exact same suspended infection, the exact same platform with really high security and advocacy profile. It offers us more self-confidence, and will offers us much better method in the future to guarantee a sufficient supply of vaccines, and possibly for other health care items. We have a great source of supply and more varied materials. For emerging infectious illness, it is much more crucial that we have a steady source. Keep in mind throughout the COVID-19 time, there was a trouble in getting supply of these brand-new COVID-19 vaccines, and this was a worldwide issue. That’s why we need to resolve this problem.
For the kids, they will be provided either the options of suspended infection vaccine injection, or the nasal type of vaccines. They have the option, however as I have actually currently stressed, the option is based upon medical factors. There are various platforms of vaccines, various sources and methods of administration. We do not require to pick the brand name. Picking brand name is not what we are anticipating. We need to stress that all suspended type of vaccines in Hong Kong are safe and reliable, and they appropriate for our kids.
For pregnant girls, all pharmaceutical business, consisting of vaccine producers, when they are performing the medical trials, they might not consist of particular groups in the trials. That’s why for the Sinovac vaccines, they did not consist of pregnant females in their sign, however it does not suggest that this vaccine is contraindicated throughout pregnancy, it is not a contraindication. Pregnancy is not a contraindication for this vaccine. Since it is not consisted of in the indicator, we would encourage pregnant girls to speak with medical professionals. After they get suggestions from the medical professionals, they would have the ability to select the vaccines– not since of the brand name, however the medical factors. I have actually stressed once again that, we need to choose for vaccines for medical factors, however not for picking the brand name. Thank you.
(Please likewise describe the Chinese part of the remarks.)