Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunisation assesses serious adverse events relating to COVID-19 vaccination
Having regard to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Use of Vaccines) Regulation (Cap. 599K), the Department of Health (DH) set up the Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunisation to provide independent assessment on the potential causal link between Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFIs) and COVID-19 vaccination under Cap. 599K. The Expert Committee convened a meeting on December 12 to assess serious adverse events relating to COVID-19 vaccination, and will publish the last safety monitoring report on COVID-19 vaccines on the Government’s designated website today (December 29).
As of December 23, about 20.92 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered for members of the public in Hong Kong. Around 6.92 million people had received at least one vaccine dose. In the same period, the DH received 8 139 reports of adverse events (0.04 per cent of total vaccine doses administered). There was no new AEFI report involving death received since June 1, 2023.
The Government enacted Cap. 599K on December 23, 2020, to authorise the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong developed and tested within a short period of time and with evidence proving their safety and efficacy. To date, sufficient scientific evidences and safety data are in place to indicate that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks. The vaccines not only protect individuals from COVID-19 infection, but also reduce the seriousness of the condition of infected persons who have received vaccination. Currently, there are COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong fulfilling safety, efficacy and quality requirements registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A). The expiry of Cap. 599K at midnight on December 23 as planned implies the end of emergency use regime for COVID-19 vaccines (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202312/18/P2023121800312.htm?fontSize=1).
The Expert Committee will publish the last safety monitoring report on COVID-19 vaccines on the Government’s designated website today, and will continue to handle relevant AEFI cases for the period covered by Cap 599K (viz. cases involving vaccines administered on or before December 23, 2023). read more