The Department of Health (DH) has put in place a pharmacovigilance system for COVID-19 immunisations, including receiving reports of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFIs) related to the COVID-19 vaccines used in Hong Kong from healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical industries, and setting up the Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunisation (Expert Committee) to provide independent assessment on the potential causal link between AEFIs and COVID-19 vaccination. The main purpose of the pharmacovigilance system is to detect potential signals of possible side effects of the vaccines.

     According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an AEFI is any medical occurrence that follows immunisation and that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine. The Expert Committee conducts causality assessments based on the WHO algorithm for suspected serious adverse events.

     As of May 2, 2021, a total of 11 785 persons were infected with COVID-19 and 210 died of the disease in Hong Kong. Separately, there were about 1 491 900 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered and a total of 2 402 AEFI reports (0.16 per cent of all doses administered) were reported. A total of 16 death reports (0.001 per cent of all doses administered) with vaccination history within 14 days were received in the same period.  The Expert Committee concluded that four cases had no causal relationship with COVID-19 vaccination, and the rest were preliminary considered not associated with COVID-19 vaccination. The Expert Committee considered the existing available information of the reported cases so far does not show any causal relationship with COVID-19 vaccination.

     As of 4pm today (May 8), the DH has received two death cases reported as suspected serious adverse events with history of COVID-19 vaccination within 14 days from the Hospital Authority (HA) in the past 24 hours (please refer to Annex). The reports did not provide clinical evidence to support that the events were caused by the vaccine. The DH has contacted the HA upon receiving the reports to obtain further information to facilitate a causality assessment. So far, there is no clinical evidence indicating that the events were caused by the vaccine. The HA has referred the cases to the Coroner. Also, the DH will pass the cases based on the established mechanism to the Expert Committee for conducting causality assessment.

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened on Lamma Island this morning (May 8) in which a man died.

     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

     Police today (May 8) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Lau Ka-yin, aged 24, went missing after he left his residence on Pik Wan Road on May 6 evening. His family made a report to Police on the next day.
         
     He is about 1.75 metres tall, 54 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short curly brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, white T-shirt, black trousers and black and white shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0321 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (May 8), 13 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 486 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 616 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 155 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 75 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 14 public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, among which three patients are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and the remaining 70 patients are in stable condition.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.
 
     The case numbers of the discharged, critical and serious patients are as follows:
 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 8) that Island East Swimming Pool in Eastern District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.15pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.