Third Death Reported After Sinovac Vaccination in Hong Kong... "Autopsy Scheduled"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The third death has occurred in Hong Kong since the start of COVID-19 vaccinations using the Sinovac vaccine developed by China. In Hong Kong, distrust of the Sinovac vaccine has grown, leading to a sharp decline in the number of people getting vaccinated.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 8th, a 71-year-old man who received the Sinovac vaccine on the 3rd experienced a worsening condition after vaccination and was hospitalized on the night of the 7th but died that morning, citing sources. There is no information yet about the deceased man's underlying conditions or medical history, and an autopsy is planned.

Hong Kong's RTHK reported that although the government is investigating the correlation between the deaths and the vaccine, the number of Sinovac vaccine recipients has decreased as deaths following Sinovac vaccinations continue. According to RTHK, the number of Sinovac vaccine recipients on the 7th was about 8,100, which is known to be more than a quarter less than the previous day. In contrast, the number of German Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients increased from 300 on the first day of vaccination, the 6th, to about 900 on the 7th.

Previously in Hong Kong, a 63-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman who received the Sinovac vaccine died after vaccination. Both were reported to have chronic illnesses, and Hong Kong health authorities announced that the cause of death of the 63-year-old man was unrelated to the vaccination.