Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session after visiting the Queen Mary Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station today (September 29):
Reporter: How much do you think that these new hospital vaccination points can help with the Government's vaccination drive? Can you also clarify whether people who wish to take a vaccination here, do they need to prove that they have an appointment with the hospital that they are to be able to receive vaccination? Or is it all is welcomed for these vaccination points?
Secretary for the Civil Service: This is an additional channel that facilitates the elderly to receive the jab. In addition to the vaccination stations at hospitals, we have the Community Vaccination Centres. We are doing outreach vaccination services at district level through one-stop activities including health talks, one-on-one medical consultation and on-site vaccination. We are also doing outreach vaccination services at shopping malls and public estates. We hope that we would explore every possible channel and I am sure that every channel counts. It is important to facilitate the elderly to get the jab. That is the first point.
Secondly, for vaccination stations at hospitals, the intention is of course to facilitate those patients who need to have a consultation at hospitals so that while they are at hospitals waiting for medical consultation or waiting for drugs that they would take the opportunity really on-site at the hospital compound, they can get the jab. I would expect those who are coming to hospitals to receive the jab. There are no hard or very rigid rules, but I would expect for those who do not need to go to hospitals, of course, we will advise them not to go to hospitals. There are other channels including the 20-odd vaccination centres in the community that also provide very convenient channels for them to receive the vaccines.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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