Two more die soon after Covid vaccinations

The Hospital Authority says an 80-year-old man and a 67-year man have died shortly after receiving Sinovac Covid-19 jabs. Both had underlying health problems, including hypertension and diabetes.

The 80-year-old died of ischaemic bowel disease at Princess Margaret Hospital. He had originally been admitted to the Caritas Medical Centre last Sunday, after suffering from chest pains the day before. He had received his jab on March 1.

The 67-year-old died at Kwong Wah Hospital. He had received his vaccine on March 2 and had been admitted to hospital last Thursday, after collapsing at Mong Kok MTR station following a heart attack.

The Department of Health also said a 63-year-old man with underlying health conditions, had been admitted to North District Hospital on Saturday after having a stroke.

It said the man had felt unwell on March 10, a day after receiving the Sinovac jab at a vaccination centre in Sha Tin, but that there was no record of him feeling unwell at the centre.

The man has history of congestive heart failure, polycythemia, abnormal heart rhythm, and fatty liver.

So far six people have died in Hong Kong after having had the Sinovac vaccine, though an expert panel has ruled out a direct link to the vaccine for the first two cases. The other cases are still being looked into.

As of Saturday, nearly 150,000 people had received the Sinovac vaccine.

The Hospital Authority said over 10,000 people were admitted to hospital in 2020 with acute strokes and 7,300 with heart attacks.