The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (March 16) visited the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) at Yau Oi Sports Centre in Tuen Mun and Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre in Sham Shui Po to be briefed on their operation and to give encouragement to their staff members.

     Mr Cheung called on members of the public in the priority groups of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, especially those in the three new categories, to get vaccinated early.
      
     Accompanied by the Director of General Grades of the Civil Service Bureau, Mr Hermes Chan, Mr Cheung was briefed by staff members who run the CVC at Yau Oi Sports Centre on the operation of the centre and by the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko, on the operation of the CVC at Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre. He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the staff working there, including healthcare workers from both the public and private sectors and colleagues of various government departments.
      
     Mr Cheung also chatted with people getting vaccinated at the two CVCs and thanked them for participating in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to help contain the epidemic.
      
     The Government announced yesterday (March 15) that it would extend the scope of priority groups under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to cover the following three additional categories of people:

(1) people aged between 30 and 59;
(2) students aged 16 or above studying outside Hong Kong; and
(3) domestic helpers.
      
     Members of the public in these new categories can make reservations starting today through the online booking system on the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) of the vaccination programme for receiving vaccines at CVCs and the 18 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority. They can also make appointments for vaccination with a private doctor or clinic participating in the programme.

     Meanwhile, 12 more CVCs for administering Comirnaty vaccine came into operation today to provide an enlarged vaccination quota to meet public demand. As of now, Hong Kong has eight CVCs administering Sinovac vaccine while 19 CVCs are administering Comirnaty vaccine.
      
     "So far, about 206 000 persons have received their first vaccination dose. However, we are concerned about the recent epidemic situation with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the rise again. After expansion of the vaccination programme, the priority groups will cover more than 5.5 million people. I strongly appeal to people in the priority groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible in order to protect themselves and others and join hands to fight against the epidemic," Mr Cheung said.

     The CVC at Yau Oi Sports Centre administering Sinovac vaccine is operated by a private medical organisation. The CVC at Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre administering Comirnaty vaccine is operated by the Hospital Authority.

Ends/Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Issued at HKT 20:00

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