HK Reports First Death Following BioNTech Jab

The government on Friday reported the first known death of a patient here who had recently received the BioNTech vaccine, and pledged to look into the case to ascertain if the jab had anything to do with the fatality.

An expert committee had previously assessed seven previous fatal cases involving people who had gotten the Sinovac vaccine, and determined that there was no direct link with the inoculations.

However, news of the fatalities had spooked many, causing a drop in Hong Kong’s vaccination rate before the government broadened the eligibility of its inoculation programme to anyone over 30 earlier this week.

The Department of Health said in a statement that the latest case involved a 66-year-old patient who had a history of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.

He was found passed out in a car on Friday morning, and died after he was taken to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital.

Authorities say he had gotten his first dose of the BioNTech vaccine at a community vaccination centre in Sheung Shui on Tuesday, but did not report feeling unwell.

The department said the case would be referred to the expert committee for a more thorough assessment.