Upon landing at the Hong Kong International Airport, authorities inspected the vaccine according to established procedures to ensure it complies with the product specifications.

They also checked if the transportation process followed the relevant cold-chain requirements as the jabs must be stored in an ultra-cold environment at minus 70 degrees Celsius.

Together with the 585,000 doses delivered to Hong Kong late last month, a total of about 1.34 million doses of the vaccine, named Comirnaty, has arrived in the SAR.

Citizens from five priority groups -- elderly people above 60, medics, cross-border workers, public service officers and residents and staffers at care homes -- can now make reservations for the Comirnaty jabs through the government online booking system at www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/ to receive them at seven community vaccination centers from Wednesday to March 30.

Another vaccine option -- the Beijing-made CoronaVac by Sinovac -- is also available for booking on the website.