"sinovac"

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to donate $100 million to the UN-backed COVAX program, which aims to distribute vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

China earlier this month, authorised the emergency use of CoronaVac, for children aged between 3 and 17 years.

Sinovac has finished the Phrase I and II clinical research stage, involving several hundred volunteers in this age group, which has proved that the vaccine is as safe and efficient.

Hong Kong is still grappling with coronavirus outbreaks and stringent social distancing measures that are especially hard on bars, restaurants and the tourism industry.

A poll published in January by the University of Hong Kong found respondents concerned about the Chinese vaccine's efficacy.

The authorisation for the Sinovac vaccine will be valid for one year, according to the FAD approval letter that Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook account.