“Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are highly effective and safe in reducing severe illness and death.”
Writing | Jun Ling
Source | “Medical Community” Official Account
Among the 1,486 deaths in Hong Kong, the proportion of inactivated vaccines was as high as 87%, which is more than 7 times that of mRNA vaccines?
This shocking data comes from the relevant Hong Kong media. Recently, they reported the death toll after different vaccines, which caused the industry to question the effect of inactivated vaccines.
To this end, yesterday (20th), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government issued the “Report on Clarification of the Vaccination Situation of Death Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019”, expressing regret for the misleading reports, and provided by Hong Kong Both vaccines against COVID-19 are highly effective and safe in reducing severe illness and death after infection.
The Hong Kong government further discloses data, in terms of deaths in the over 80 age group:
The infection mortality rate was 5.83% after one dose of Sinovac inactivated vaccine and 3.44% after one dose of Pfizer mRNA vaccine;
Infection mortality after two doses of inactivated vaccine and mRNA vaccine decreased to 2.95% and 1.51%, respectively.
Misread “7 times more deaths”
The latest statistics show that as of March 20, 2022, the fifth wave of the new crown epidemic in Hong Kong has accumulated 1,035,059 infections and 5,683 deaths.
Among the deaths, 87.3% of the population over the age of 70 accounted for a total of 4,959 cases, of which about 28% had been vaccinated.
In this clarification, the Hong Kong government did not name specific media. After consulting the “medical community”, it was found that this Sunday (20th), a Hong Kong media released a report saying:
It obtained a case analysis of 1,486 vaccinated deceased patients from the Hospital Authority, and the results showed that 1,292 dead cases were vaccinated with inactivated vaccine, accounting for 87%; 184 cases were vaccinated with mRNA, accounting for 12% . The data do not indicate an age distribution.
Although relevant media emphasized that the data did not adjust for age factors for reasons such as “the number of elderly people vaccinated with inactivated vaccines is inherently more” and “the elderly have a higher risk of death”.
At the same time, Liu Yulong, chairman of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, also told the relevant media that other interference reasons should be considered when analyzing the data, such as the proportion of different age groups receiving the two vaccines, the time of vaccination, Age, etc., and most elderly people who receive inactivated vaccines require a statistical “regression analysis”, and it is not possible to simply compare the number of deaths from the two vaccines.
However, because the data at the opening conclusion was too “shocking”, the report caused widespread social discussion, and the death data of more than 7 times also caused the public to question the effect of inactivated vaccines.
The Government reiterates:
Both vaccines are effective against severe illness and death
The Hong Kong government emphasized in the clarification that the analysis of the type of vaccination among the deceased vaccinated patients is complicated, and it is necessary to explore the individual circumstances of each death case, such as the age of the deceased and chronic disease records, etc. , In addition, the factors that more elderly people are vaccinated with Sinovac vaccine should also be considered, and conclusions should not be made casually.
“Clarification” released further data:
Among the first 5,435 deaths in the fifth wave, 88.3% had not received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine;
The mortality rate was 0.09% for patients who had received at least two doses of the new crown vaccine, and 0.7% and 2.58% for those who received one or no doses, respectively. Vaccination definitely helps reduce mortality.
At present, about 80% of the vaccinated seniors over the age of 80 are vaccinated with the Kerrfall (Kexing) vaccine, and about 20% are vaccinated with the Fubitai (Pfizer mRNA) vaccine.
Among the 3,837 deaths in the elderly over the age of 80 that have been preliminarily analyzed:
About 74% (2837 cases) were unvaccinated, and the infection mortality rate was as high as 15%;
Infection mortality was 2.62% for those over 80 who had completed two two-dose Covid-19 vaccines, compared to 5.59% for one-dose;
For those who died over the age of 80, the infection fatality rate was 5.83% for one dose of Sinovac inactivated vaccine and 3.44% for one dose of Pfizer mRNA vaccine;< /p>
Infection mortality rates of two doses of inactivated vaccine and mRNA vaccine decreased to 2.95% and 1.51%, respectively.
The Hong Kong government reiterates that the two COVID-19 vaccines provided in Hong Kong are highly effective in reducing severe illness and death after infection, and strongly urges those who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible, especially those infected with the new coronavirus Elderly, chronically ill and other people with weakened immune systems who are at high risk of death later.
Vaccination may also be one of Hong Kong’s last “weapons” at this stage.
According to many media reports at home and abroad, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, held a press conference on the fight against the epidemic today (March 21), saying that Hong Kong will suspend compulsory testing for all people, and that on April 1 From April 19, schools can resume face-to-face classes.
And on April 20, if the epidemic does not rebound, other epidemic prevention measures will be relaxed in three phases, including:
In the first phase, the restaurant will resume operation at night, and the maximum number of people gathering in groups will be relaxed to 4;
In the second stage, the number of group gatherings is relaxed to 8 people, masks are not required when exercising outdoors, the restaurant’s evening business hours are extended from 22:00 to 24:00, and each table is increased from 4 to 8 people.
In the third stage, restrictions on most places will be relaxed as much as possible, and only basic epidemic prevention requirements will be implemented, including wearing masks, limiting the number of people in gatherings, using “safe travel” and showing vaccines before entering the venue Pass etc.
Carrie Lam said that during this month, she will strive to focus on treatment, reduce severe illness and death, and further increase the vaccination rate:
By the end of April, the goal of increasing vaccination rates is expected to be met. Including citizens aged 12 and above, the vaccination rate of the second shot has increased to 90%, the vaccination rate of children aged 3 to 11 has increased to 90%, and the first shot vaccination rate of the elderly in residential homes has also increased by 90%.
Source: Medicine
Editor in charge: Zheng Huaju
Proofreading: Zang Hengjia
Plate making: Xue Jiao