Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan attended the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Health & the Economy via video conferencing today.

Under the theme of "Making the Economic Case for Health Equity in a COVID-19 World", senior health officials from member economies shared views on challenges to public health systems and economies as the world continues its enduring battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also discussed measures to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and medical products as well as strengthening the resilience of the global public health system to respond to future health threats, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

During the discussion session, Prof Chan shared her views on the supply chain resilience of COVID-19 vaccines. She noted that having entered the second year of the battle against COVID-19, it has become clear to the global community that vaccination is one of the keys to ending the pandemic.

She pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has launched a citywide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme since February and the Early Vaccination for All campaign at the end of May to boost public uptake of vaccines.

Hong Kong will continue to support and participate in the joint effort of ensuring sustainable and equitable access to safe and affordable COVID-19 vaccines, as well as addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, in order to promote extensive immunisation against COVID-19 as a global public good, she added.

Before the end of the meeting, Prof Chan and health officials of other economies jointly adopted a statement to affirm continued international and regional collaboration on health on various fronts.