Hong Kong is the latest country in the world to join in the mad dash to acquire the much-needed COVID-19 vaccine.
In a report, the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) has ordered 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The orders were split between Sinovac Biotech Ltd. of China and Pfizer/BioNTech.
The total number of vaccine doses is about twice the number of its residents, according to Carrie Lam, HK SAR’s current chief executive said Friday.
The first batch totaling 1 million will arrive in January from China. The other million from Pfizer/BioNTech is due to arrive in the first quarter of next year.
The government is looking at securing a total of 30 million doses since every person needs two injections to achieve full vaccination.
It said they are also talking to Oxford/AstraZeneca, another vaccine developer from Europe. This is expected to be available for HK during the second half of 2021.
Lam said the elderly and other persons in vulnerable categories will be prioritized in the administration of the vaccine.
Compared to other countries and major cities around the world that experienced an upsurge in COVID-19 cases, the former British colony has avoided large outbreaks, where it registered around 7,300 cases since January with only 114 deaths.