Hong Kong coronavirus: cancer patient given wrong vaccine after mixing up inoculation centres
- David Allardice, 55, erroneously given Sinovac jab despite deliberately choosing BioNTech one after consulting his doctor
- Staff failed to make booking checks that would have sounded the alarm when Allardice arrived at the wrong vaccination centre
But relief turned to shock when it emerged the 55-year-old Hong Kong resident had gone to the wrong vaccination centre – and was given the China-made Sinovac jab rather than the BioNTech one from Germany he actually booked.
The mix-up only came to light after the government sent him a text message saying he did not turn up to his vaccine appointment.
I was desperate to get vaccinated so I could get a little bit of my life back
In fact, Allardice had turned up at the wrong venue, but was waved through without proper checks to be given a dose that he earlier made a deliberate decision not to have after consulting his doctor.
“I was desperate to get vaccinated so I could get a little bit of my life back. If I got Covid-19, I would not survive … I’ve lived with that panic for over a year now,” he told the Post.
“Only once I’ve had a second dose would I then have a greater degree of confidence to go out anywhere other than to chemotherapy.”
Allardice and his vaccination companion booked a 6.30pm BioNTech slot on March 18 at Hiu Kwong Street Sports Centre in Kwun Tong. But they mistakenly went to Kowloon Bay Sports Centre, which is about 3km away and only administers Sinovac jabs.
