General out-patient clinics provide additional assessment sessions to assist follow-up patients on vaccination decisions

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of the Hospital Authority (HA) today (June 21) announced that, starting from Friday (June 25), an assessment service will be offered to patients who are regularly followed-up at general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) and intend to receive a COVID-19 vaccination to aid them in making a decision on vaccination.
 
     The spokesperson said, "In support of the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the HA's GOPCs have been providing advice to patients who are in doubt of their suitability for receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
 
     The spokesperson said, "The HA will further enhance the service from June 25 by offering additional assessment sessions to chronic patients, with regular follow-up appointments in the 73 GOPCs who intend to receive a COVID-19 vaccination but are in doubt of their suitability. Doctors will assess the clinical conditions of the patients to aid them in making a decision on vaccination."
 
     Patients who are regularly followed up at GOPCs and would like to receive the assessment service can make an appointment by calling their respective GOPCs during office hours (9am to 1pm; 2pm to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturday (except public holidays)) beginning tomorrow (June 22). The telephone numbers of the clinics are available on the appointment slip or the website of the HA GOPC (www.ha.org.hk/goto/gopc/en).
 
     The spokesperson said, "Generally speaking, clinic staff will offer patients an assessment timeslot within the next two weeks. An SMS reminder will be sent to the patients two days before the appointment date. The charges for the service will be the same as that of a GOPC consultation. The patients' original follow-up appointment will not be affected."
 
     "The assessment is based on the patients' medical records in the GOPCs. Therefore, patients intending to undertake the assessment should make the appointment with their respective GOPCs. For members of the public without a regular follow-up appointment at GOPCs, they may like to consult their own family doctors for enquiries," the spokesperson added.
 
     Starting from June 25, five more GOPCs will provide a COVID-19 vaccination service (Sinovac), alongside more quotas in some clinics currently providing the vaccination service. Members of the public can start making appointments at the following government website (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk) from 9am tomorrow.