Multi-pronged measures to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said today (January 7) that the Government will take multi-pronged measures to increase the uptake and pace of COVID-19 vaccination, which includes increasing the number of vaccination booths at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (HCVSs), to cater for the public's demand for vaccination. Specific measures include:
* The number of Mobile Vaccination Stations has increased to two starting from today. Members of the public can make use of the Mobile Vaccination Stations to receive their first, second or third dose of a vaccine.
* The Government has been increasing the number of vaccination booths or manpower at CVCs and HCVSs to fully utilise the vaccination capacity of the venues.
* Starting from 9am tomorrow (January 8), the booking period for vaccination in the booking system of the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) will be extended by one week. In other words, the public can make reservations to get vaccinated for the coming four weeks.
* Two more CVCs, located at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre and Kowloon Bay Sports Centre, will come into service starting from January 21 to provide the BioNTech vaccination service. Reservations can be made starting from 9am on January 18.
Mr Nip appealed to persons who are yet to receive vaccination to get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection under the threat posed by mutant strains with high transmissibility. Eligible persons should receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to enhance protection and build a protective barrier in the community. Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection.
Members of the public can receive COVID-19 vaccination through the following channels:
* Starting from January 21, the number of CVCs will be increased from 10 to 12. Among them, 11 CVCs will operate daily from 8am to 8pm. The HKU CVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong operates from 10am to 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and is closed on Wednesdays. All CVCs close between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on working days for cleaning.
CVCs providing the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine
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Java Road Sports Centre in North Point
Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Jordan
Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre in Sha Tin
CVCs providing the Fosun/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine
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Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre (starting from January 21)
Kowloon Bay Sports Centre (starting from January 21)
Sai Wan Ho Sports Centre
Hiu Kwong Street Sports Centre in Kwun Tong
Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre
Yuen Long Sports Centre
HKU CVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in Wong Chuk Hang
CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin
Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre in Kwai Chung
All eligible persons can collect same-day tickets and get vaccinated at the CVCs (except those located at private hospitals) without prior booking.
* Thirteen HCVSs are located in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Yan Chai Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Pok Oi Hospital, North District Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital and Ruttonjee Hospital, providing the BioNTech vaccination service. Prior booking is not required. For details, please visit:
www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/HA_HCVS_Location_ENG.pdf.
* For the designated clinics under the Hospital Authority providing the Sinovac vaccination service by appointment, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_HAGOPC_Venues.pdf.
* Three Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health, namely Lam Tin EHC, Sai Ying Pun EHC and Tseung Kwan O EHC, provide walk-in vaccination with the Sinovac vaccine for all persons aged 65 or above. No prior booking is required. For details, please visit: www.elderly.gov.hk/eindex.html.
* Over 1 000 doctors or clinics provide the Sinovac vaccination service. For details, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/VSS.
* The private healthcare institutions enrolled in the BioNTech Vaccination Pilot Scheme provide the BioNTech vaccination service to the public at 26 venues. Members of the public can contact these institutions and clinics directly for a vaccination appointment, and booking through the designated website of the Vaccination Programme is not required. For enquiry hotlines and vaccination venues, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/PrivatePilotScheme_BNT_en.pdf.
* The service schedule of the two Mobile Vaccination Stations has been uploaded to the website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/List_Mobile_Vaccination_Station_ENG.pdf) and will be updated from time to time.
The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines. Before making an appointment, members of the public should take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination).