Government Concerned Over EU Vaccine Controls

The government says it is gravely concerned about the European Union's export controls for Covid-19 vaccines, announced on Friday. Hong Kong is expecting to start its vaccination programme late next month with jabs from the German manufacturer BioNTech. So far, it is the only vaccine with final approval for use here.

In a statement late on Saturday, the government said had contacted the BioNTech distributor for China, Fosun Pharma, to make sure Hong Kong's advance purchase agreement still stood. It also pointed out that the EU had said it would try to ensure that exports, under such agreements, would not be affected.

The EU controls stem from criticism at home over its slow vaccination roll-out, when compared to the UK - leading to talk of a vaccine war.

In addition to the BioNTech, Hong Kong has ordered the Oxford University jab from Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and one from the mainland firm Sinovac.