The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been running smoothly since its launch on February 26. Taking into account the supply of vaccines and the progress of the vaccination programme, a Government spokesman today (March 8) announced that the scope of the priority groups will be expanded in accordance with the proposed framework on priority of vaccinations by Joint Scientific Committees, to cover the following seven categories of people who have greater risk of exposure to the virus and risk of infection :

(1) Staff of food and beverages premises, markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, couriers and takeaway delivery (including takeaway food delivery);
(2) Staff of local public transport service operators (e.g. taxi/bus/public light bus drivers, train captains and station staff );
(3) Registered construction workers;
(4) Staff of property management (e.g. security guards and cleaning and security staff);
(5) Teachers and school staff (e.g. teaching and support staff of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and universities; staff of special schools; and drivers and escorts of school buses and school private light buses);
(6) Staff in the tourism industry; and
(7) Staff of scheduled premises under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (e.g. staff of fitness centres and beauty parlours).

     Members of the public in these new categories of priority groups, starting from 9am tomorrow (March 9), can make reservation through the online booking system for receiving vaccines at community vaccination centres (CVCs) or they can choose to get vaccinated at clinics of private doctors. 

     At present, for the Sinovac vaccine, persons in the priority groups can make bookings for vaccination at eight CVCs, 18 Hospital Authority (HA) general out-patient clinics and private doctor or clinics participating in the programme. For vaccination at private doctors or clinics, the public can make an appointment with the doctor or clinic they choose, without going through the government online booking system. 

     For the Comirnaty vaccine, people in the priority groups can get vaccinated at the seven CVCs operated by the HA starting from March 10. The government will also open 12 CVCs (list at Annex) from March 16 onwards for members of public who want to receive the Comirnaty vaccine. 

     People belonging to the priority groups can make reservations starting from 9am tomorrow (March 9) through the online system for receiving the Comirnaty vaccine at these 12 newly-added CVCs for the period between March 16 and 30.

     To facilitate members of the public to make reservation for vaccination, the online booking system will provide for a rolling quota, opening up one more day for booking on a daily basis from 9 am, starting from March 10. This, together with the participation of about 1 400 private doctors at around 2 000 clinics in the programme, will be able to meet the public demands.

     Members of the public can search information about the vaccination venues including CVCs, general out-patient clinics of the HA, private doctors and clinics participating in the programme through the GeoInfo Map (www.map.gov.hk/gm/map/s/m/communityvaccinationservicesofcovid-19?lg=tc) and Interactive Map Dashboard of COVID-19 (chp-dashboard.geodata.gov.hk/covid-19/zh.html) on the designated website.

     Meanwhile, around 100 people in the vaccination priority groups arranged by the Government received the Comirnaty vaccine at the CVC at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre this morning (March 8), in a bid to appeal through their actions to other members of the priority groups to get vaccinated early, with a view to protecting themselves and others.

     People who got vaccinated today included healthcare workers, air crew, and officers of the six disciplined services, namely the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department, the Immigration Department and the Government Flying Service.

Ends/Monday, March 8, 2021
Issued at HKT 20:16

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