The Hong Kong government reported on Mar. 2 the death of an elderly man, two days after he received a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine. The health authorities are still investigating the cause of death to determine if it is connected to the vaccine.
Since Feb. 26, the Hong Kong government has started the COVID-19 vaccination for priority and at-risk groups, including people over 60 years old, in the city.
Hong Kong local media Apple Daily reported that a 63-year-old man with diabetes was inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine made by China’s Sinovac Biotechnology Co., Ltd. on Feb. 26. He developed acute breathing difficulties and died on Feb. 28.
The Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine has an efficacy of 50.6 percent, according to media reports. A number of suspected side effects of the vaccine have been reported worldwide, including death.
Hong Kong Health officials issued a statement saying that the man’s death is still under investigation: “At the moment, the causal relationship with the vaccination could not be ascertained.”
