New BioNTech vaccines ready for delivery to Macao
The fresh batches await results of investigation into the defective packaging which brought the vaccination programme to a temporary halt.
Fosun Pharma, the agent distributing BioNTech vaccines in Macao and Hong Kong is ready to ship a new consignment of doses as soon as it receives the results of the investigation into packaging defects which had halted the cities’ roll-out of the German-made jabs.
The South China Morning Post reported that Fosun Pharma’s chairman and chief executive Wu Yifang said that an announcement about the investigation’s outcome will be made in the next couple of days.
“There will definitely be a new batch of [vaccines] for Hong Kong and Macao, to resolve issues about continuing the vaccination programme,” said Wu.
The third batch of BioNTech vaccines was “already prepared, but we must ensure that the investigation is complete, without any potential uncertainties,” Wu added. “Vaccines are preventive products, and must [adhere to] the highest requirements.”
Macao health officials last Wednesday abruptly stopped the BioNTech vaccination roll-out on the advice of the vaccine’s supplier, after the scheme’s frontline staff identified more than 50 defects to vials, including cracks and leaks, as well as stains on their exterior, in the first batch numbered “210102”.
As of last Tuesday, 6,215 BioNTech doses had been administered in Macao. In addition, 5,393 people had made an appointment to be inoculated with BioNTech jabs, made up of 1,520 people who were waiting for their first jab and 3,873 people who were waiting for their second.
