Shanghai Fosun sees surge in enquiries from mainland Chinese looking to book Omicron-focused BioNTech shot in Hong Kong
- Long queues of mainland Chinese nationals looking to receive the mRNA vaccine have been seen outside Hong Kong clinics
- More than 10 clinics and private hospitals in Hong Kong have approached Fosun as of today to administer the vaccine
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group, the exclusive China distributor of German firm BioNTech’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, said it has received more than 10,000 enquiries through its online booking service from people wanting to travel from mainland China to Hong Kong to receive the Omicron-focused shot.
Long queues of mainland Chinese nationals looking to receive the mRNA vaccine have been seen outside Hong Kong clinics this week. The border between the city and mainland China was opened at the weekend, and many travellers have been keen to receive the vaccine, which has not been available to citizens in mainland China where the government recently ended its zero-Covid approach.
“Health is priceless. Most of my family back home have been infected in the past couple of weeks. I do not understand why, but I want to give myself stronger protection,” said Zhuang Ping, who was among the first batch of mainlanders arriving in the city to get vaccinated.
The 46-year-old businessman said he had received two vaccines from Sinovac and one from China National Biotec Group (CNBG) over the past two years. The Sinovac vaccine uses an inactivated form of the Covid-19 virus, instead of mRNA technology, and research studies have shown booster doses of Sinovac are less effective than booster doses of BioNTech to protect against Covid-19 variants.
“I heard that the mRNA vaccine targeting Omicron is more efficient, hence I have been looking for how to get it,” said Zhuang, who went to considerable expense to visit Hong Kong on his way back to China from South Africa, where he works. The service he received at a clinic in Tsim Sha Tsui cost HK$1,680 (US$215), said Zhuang.
“For me, it was worth taking the detour to stop in Hong Kong and pay for the jab as long as I can stay healthy,” said Zhuang, who also did some shopping nearby the clinic. “The entire procedure is smooth and I will recommend to my friends and relatives to come and get vaccinated.”
Shanghai Fosun said it started to receive queries to make appointments to receive the jab in Hong Kong on Chinese messaging app WeChat on January 6. It charges a 299 yuan (US$44) booking fee for registration, which does not include the cost of the jab itself.
