📡Guardians of Hong Kong
9.57K subscribers
21.6K photos
1.88K videos
27 files
9.99K links
We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
Facebook: http://bit.ly/BeWaterHongKong
Instagram: @guardiansofhk
Website: https://guardiansofhk.com/
Download Telegram
Only 45.9% of the interviewees in Hong Kong are willing to be vaccinated, with less than 30% willing to receive Sinovac Biotech vaccine

#COVID19 #vaccine #SinovacBiotech #GoHKgraphics
Brazilian Health Authorities Criticise the Low Transparency of the Chinese Vaccine Emergency Use Standard

Whether using vaccine manufactured by the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech caused controversy in Brazil again and involved in Brazilian partisan debate.

ANVISA, a Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, expressed their concerns over the COVID-19 vaccines on Monday as the Chinese public health departments approved the vaccine for emergency use without adequate transparency of the policy standards.

Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Brazil, has always criticised the Chinese vaccine that the “origin” of vaccine is not trustworthy. However, his political opponent, Sao Paulo Governor João Doria, who is regarded as the most capable of challenging the presidency in the 2022 presidential election, his state's research institute, is currently developing the vaccine CoronaVac with Sinovac. Doria even mentioned that they expect to distribute the vaccines to the local residents in January 2021.

#Vaccine #COVID19 #CovidVaccine #JoãoDoria #JairBolsonaro #SinovacBiotech #Brazil #ANVISA

Source: Stand News #Dec15

https://bit.ly/3ucWGEW
#MadeinChina #WuhanPneumonia
72-year-old man in Hong Kong Suffers hypertension and heart palpitation after China-made #Sinovec Jab

On Feb 27, 2021, a 72-year-old man in Hong Kong was hospitalized after receiving the China-made Sinovec #covid19 vaccinations.

The man suffered hypertension and heart palpitation. It was reported his pulse went up to 100 beats per minute.

He wss among 7,000 people who received Covid-19 vaccinations. The incident happened at a vaccination center operared by #VirtusMedical and the Association of Private Medical Specialists of Hong Kong. The man was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

According to the government, the China-made Sinovac vaccine is the only vaccine available in Hong Kong at the moment.

Source: Apple Daily; RTHK #Feb27
https://bit.ly/3ku6hCR
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1577893-20210227.htm

#Vaccine #Hypertension
The vaccination project has started the online booking since Feb 23, having 29 community vaccination centres with 2 different types of vaccines for injection.

#COVID19 #Vaccine #SincovacBiotech #BioNTech #GoHKgraphics
The 1st death case after vaccination in Hong Kong was recorded on 28/2, but the Hospital Authority held a press briefing 3 days after the incident.

#COVID19 #SinovacBiotech #Vaccine #HospitalAuthority #GoHKgraohics
#Vaccination #MassCancellation
Hong Kong Govt blames "smear campaign" as seniors cancel vaccination bookings in droves

The Hong Kong government issued a statement, accusing an unnamed medical professional group of "smearing" the government's vaccination program.

The Health Authority Employees Alliance (#HAEA) responded in a facebook post on March 18, 2021, reiterating their criticisms against the vaccination program. The medical workers' group pointed out again that the third-stage data remains insufficient for the Sinovac vaccine on patients above 60 years of age. Therefore they remain opposed to the Hong Kong government's call for citizens to receive the made-in-China Sinovac vaccine.

The group stressed that they had never been opposed to vaccination in general.

Meanwhile, the numerous deaths following vaccinations seem to have shaken the faith in the vaccine among senior citizens, although the government's expert committee insisted that the deaths are not directly related.

Speaking on a radio show on the public broadcaster RTHK, Lin Wai-yiu of the Society for Community Organization noted that they had been assisting seniors with vaccine-related inquiries. In the beginning of the program, most inquiries came from those who wanted to take the vaccine. Recently, however, half of the seniors who called wanted to cancel their appointments.

"They're cancelling in droves," Lin said. "Perhaps they read about the severe cases, and they were concerned whether their health condition is suitable for the vaccine."

He added that the government had cautioned that those with chronic illnesses should be be careful with the vaccine, but 70% of seniors often have some chronic illnesses. Additionally, some of them do not have the ability to make a medical judgment and cannot evaluate the risks involved; they would cancel their booking first, and make a decision later after consulting with their doctor.

Source: Stand News #Mar18
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/政府譴責抹黑疫苗-醫管局員工陣線反駁-科興數據未盡充分-社協-半數查詢長者望取消打針/

#FailedState #Vaccine #CoronavirusPandemic #WuhanPneumonia
International Olympics Commission Purchasing Chinese Vaccines. Japan’s Olympic Minister: Did Not Know about This Beforehand and Japanese Athletes Will Not Be Administered with the Chinese Vaccines  
 
According to a report from Asahi Shimbun, after attending a cabinet meeting on 12th March, Japan’s Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa was asked by reporters about International Olympics Commission (IOC) Chairperson Thomas Bach’s announcement of purchasing COVID-19 vaccines from China. Marukawa indicated that she did not know about this beforehand. She said there is no arrangement with IOC and no adjustments are needed regarding this issue. She also emphasized that having received COVID-19 vaccines will not be a prerequisite for participating in the Tokyo Olympics, that this principle remains the same. Marukawa further indicated that the Japanese government does not have more information about this issue, that “all the information we know is from IOC’s website and reports from news media”. 
 
#Olympics #China #Japan #Vaccine #COVID19 #VaccineDiplomacy
 
Source: Stand News #Mar12

https://bit.ly/3c79oy9
 
#FailedState
Hong Kong Doctors Criticize the Government for Delayed Information, As Guidelines Arrives Half a Month after #Vaccination Program Begins

In Hong Kong, there were at least 7 deaths following the China-made #Sinovac #COVID19 vaccination. On March 15, 2021, the Hong Kong government's Department of Health finally released an "Interim Guidance Notes" regarding the China-made vaccines for medical doctors, nearly 3 weeks after the vaccination program has begun.

The guidelines include a list of conditions under which people should not receive the vaccine, including those who had a history of allergic reaction to other Covid19 vaccine, inactivated vaccine, or any other vaccines in general; those with severe neurological conditions; uncontrolled severe chronic illnesses; as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The chairperson of the Public Doctors Association (#HKPDA) in Hong Kong, Dr. Ma Chung-yee, noted that the newly-released guidelines actually consisted mostly of old information.She said that it did not read like a professional document for practicing doctors.

Another private doctor who wished to remain anonymous criticized that the guidelines has "no help at all" to practitioners. He accused the government for passing on the medical liabilities to frontline doctors, making them responsible for verifying that patients didn't have any of the described conditions before administering the vaccine.

Since the vaccination program began on Feb 26, 2021, there had been no government-issued guidelines until this interim document; some doctors have been criticizing that the required information is coming too slowly.

According to Dr. Ivan Hung, chairperson of the government's "Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment following COVID-19 Immunization", the delay was caused by the time they needed to gather the relevant information.

Source: Stand News #Mar15
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E8%A1%9E%E7%94%9F%E7%BD%B2%E7%99%BC%E7%A7%91%E8%88%88%E6%8C%87%E5%BC%95-%E6%9B%BE%E4%B8%AD%E9%A2%A8%E6%88%96%E6%80%A5%E6%80%A7%E5%BF%83%E8%82%8C%E6%A2%97%E5%A1%9E%E6%87%89%E6%9A%AB%E7%B7%A9%E6%8E%A5%E7%A8%AE-%E9%A6%AC%E4%BB%B2%E5%84%80-%E6%96%B0%E6%8C%87%E5%BC%95%E5%A4%A7%E5%A4%9A%E8%88%8A%E6%9C%89%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/

#Vaccine #Guidelines #VaccinationDeath #HealthAuthorities #PregnantWomen
The Hong Kong Government was indecisive on BioNTech vaccination, and over a thousand citizens still received the related vaccine in the morning of the vaccine ban.

#BioNTech #COVID19 #Vaccine #Pfizer #GoHKgraphics
2 more death cases, aged 60 and 80, were found after the Sinovac Biotech vaccination. Up to March 24, 2021, there are 10 post-vaccination death cases in total in Hong Kong, but none was said related to the vaccine.

#SinovacBiotech #COVID19 #vaccine #GoHKgraphics
WHO Experts Review the Severe Side Effects Data of Sinovac, Commented "Low Credibility" for Elderly

WHO experts indicated 5 May that the Chinese Sinovac for COVID-19 has protection to adults who are under 60. However, there is a lack of data on the risk of serious side effects from vaccines, with “low credibility” for patients over aged 60 and with chronic illnesses. The expert group even referred to the severe side effect data of Sinovac on the elderly and patients with chronic illness as “very low” credibility.

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) in WHO evaluated the Phase 3 clinical test data of Sinovac in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, and Chile. They are very confident about the effectiveness of two doses of Sinovac in preventing adults aged 18-59, moderately confident about the severe side effect data on adults aged 59 years or younger. However, for those aged 60 years or older and patients with chronic diseases, the risk data of patients with severe side effects after vaccination is classified as “low credibility”, which means that the test data of Sinovac cannot determine the risks of serious side effects of Sinovac on the elderly and patients.

Source: Stand News #May06

https://bit.ly/3tKkLl3

#WHO #Vaccine #SAGE #COVID19 #China #Sinovac #Brazil #Indonesia #Turkey #Chile #Credibility #Phase3ClinicalTest
The Hong Kong government launches reward programmes to boost vaccination, such as relaxing social distancing measures and shortening the quarantine period, and asks the media to promote the campaign.

#COVID19 #Vaccine #Socialdistance #GoHKgraphics
#InternationalRelations #Regime
#China Pressures #Ukraine by blocking #COVID19 #vaccine shipment

Source: Associated Press #Jun25

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#InternationalRelations #Regime
#China Pressures #Ukraine by blocking #COVID19 #vaccine shipment

//China pressured Ukraine into withdrawing its support for a call for more scrutiny of human rights in China’s western region of Xinjiang by threatening to withhold Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines destined for Ukraine unless it did so, diplomats told The Associated Press on Friday, June 15, 2021.

Ukraine briefly joined a statement by over 40 countries, presented by Canada at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, urging China to allow immediate access for independent observers to Xinjiang. Some human rights groups have alleged Chinese mistreatment of Muslim Uyghurs and others in the region.

On Thursday, Ukraine pulled its name off the list of supporting states after Chinese authorities warned Kyiv that they would block a planned shipment of at least 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine unless it did so, said diplomats from two Western countries. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Ukraine has agreed to purchase 1.9 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech. As of early May, Ukraine had received 1.2 million doses, according to Health Minister Maxim Stepanov.

In the past, China’s government has been no stranger to pressuring other countries in Geneva diplomatic circles or in national capitals either to line up behind its statements or avoid backing statements that criticize, question or seek scrutiny of human rights in the country...//

Read full article:
https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-china-europe-ukraine-health-a0a5ae8f735b92e39c623e453529cbb9

Source: Associated Press #Jun25

#Uyghurs #CCP #WolfWarrior #Diplomacy #MadeinChina #Sinovac

Image: Stand News

https://bit.ly/3ykp09J
AIT confirms additional donation of 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine to Taiwan

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) confirmed that the United States would be donating 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Taiwan, a significant increase from the 750,000 doses announced during a visit by three U.S. senators to Taipei. The vaccine is expected to arrive in Taiwan on Saturday U.S. time, the AIT said, adding that the vaccine donation demonstrates the U.S. commitment to Taiwan as ’a trusted friend and a member of the international family of democracy.’

A spokesperson for the Presidential Office of Taiwan responded last night (19th), stating that Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Bi-khim Hsiao, had received the vaccines at Memphis Airport in Tennessee on behalf of the government and that they were expected to arrive in Taiwan on Sunday (20th).

The spokesperson said that President Tsai Ing-wen once again expressed her sincere gratitude to President Biden and the U.S. government for their strong support of Taiwan by significantly increasing the original 750,000 doses of vaccine announced on the 6th to 2.5 million doses, demonstrating the U.S. government’s concrete actions in support of Taiwan’s efforts to combat the challenge of this outbreak. The spokesperson added that the U.S. government’s timely outreach is a testament to the rock-solid friendship between Taiwan and the United States.

Source: Stand News #Jun20

#AIT #Covid19 #US #Biden #Taiwan #Vaccine

https://beta.thestandnews.com/international/武漢肺炎-美國在台協會證實-加碼向台灣捐贈-250-萬劑莫德納疫苗
China threatens to withhold vaccines, pressuring Ukraine to withdraw its support for Xinjiang investigation.

The Associated Press (AP) reports that Ukraine is pressured by China, which threaten to withhold COVID-19 vaccines from exported there, to withdraw from a statement by the UN Human Rights Council on sending independent observers to Xinjiang to investigate human rights issue. China welcomes the decision and said it reflects the spirit of independence.

Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations issued a statement at the UN Human Rights Council last Tuesday (22 June) on behalf of more than 40 countries, including Ukraine, urging China to allow immediate access for independent observers to Xinjiang. China warned that it would block at least 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines shipment to Ukraine unless it pulled out from the statement, according to the Associated Press. Ukraine withdrew from the statement on Thursday, and AP received written response from China saying that its “provision of vaccines and anti-epidemic materials to other countries is not meant to gain benefits from other countries and there isn’t any geopolitical purpose nor any political conditions attached.”

Source: Stand News #Jun27

https://bit.ly/3hw9qSZ

#Xinjiang #China #Ukraine #Independence #Democracy #HumanRights #UnitedNations #COVID #AssociatedPress #Canada #Vaccine
Countries Signal Doubts About Delta Protection From Chinese Vaccine

Thailand became the latest country to signal waning confidence in a Chinese vaccine against the highly contagious Delta variant, saying it would offer booster shots of Western doses to healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers who received two doses of the vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. would be given a third shot made by either Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE or AstraZeneca PLC, Thailand’s health ministry said Monday. Those who had only one dose would receive AstraZeneca as their second.

The decision to mix the vaccines makes Thailand the latest country to show reservations about whether Chinese vaccines work well enough to protect medical workers against the Delta variant, which was first detected in India and is thought to be far more contagious than earlier versions of the virus. The strain has spread to at least 98 countries.

Source: WSJ #Jul13

https://t.co/TkCKN0gyaz

#Thailand #Vaccine #BioNTech #AstraZeneca #Covid19
Brazil Stops Purchasing more Coronavac Vaccine and Does not Recommend for the 3rd Dose Booster

Brazil is a major customer of China's Coronavac. However, due to the rising efficacy concerns against the COVID Delta variant, along with other vaccines becoming more accessible, the Brazilian government pauses the Coronavac vaccines purchases and encourages people not to use it for a third booster shot. The CoronaVac vaccine factory originally planned to be built in Brazil is also unknown whether it will be built as scheduled.

The Wall Street Journal mentions that Brazil has almost fully purchased 100 million doses of China’s CoronaVac shot. However, the Brazilian government no longer recommends using CoronaVac as a booster dose, but Pfizer instead due to the low protective rates of CoronaVac.

According to the Brazilian government data, the Chinese shot accounted for 80% of the doses at the beginning of the year due to the National Immunization Programme but now declines to less than 35%. The data also shows two-thirds of Brazilians have had one vaccine shot, and just over a third have had two doses.

Source: Stand News #Sep13

https://bit.ly/39t1w7W

#COVID19 #SinovacBiotech #Coronavac #Pfizer #Brazil #WallStreetJournal #Vaccine #Booster