The Government's outreach vaccination team will provide a COVID-19 vaccination service at Shek Lei Community Hall for three consecutive days from Thursday to Saturday (September 23 to 25) from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm for residents of the district, in particular elderly persons, to receive Sinovac vaccination.

     As today (September 21) is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, distributed leaflets at Shek Lei Shopping Centre and paid a home visit to a singleton elderly person living in Shek Lei Estate (II). He appealed people to actively participate in the outreach vaccination service starting on Thursday, so as to protect themselves and others and build together a protective shield in the community.

     "Reaching out to the community and focusing on the elderly are the priorities of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme at this stage. We would also like to learn more about the elderly persons' thoughts and, most importantly, provide services that can meet the users' needs," Mr Nip said.

     "We are actively promoting vaccination through outreach services at the district level. In addition to providing a one-stop service covering talks on vaccine information, health consultation and on-site vaccination at the district level, we will also organise vaccination activities at shopping malls and housing estates so as to further assist members of the public, in particular elderly persons who usually have activities in places close to their homes, to get vaccinated."

     Given the threat posed by mutant strains, persons who are suitable for COVID-19 vaccination should get vaccinated as early as possible to protect themselves and to reduce their risk of falling seriously ill and dying should they get infected. The Government appealed to persons who are not yet vaccinated, in particular the elderly, to grasp the opportunity to get vaccinated before the winter influenza season arrives. This is the best way to protect oneself under the current epidemic.

     The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health recommends that elderly persons should receive COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, as long as they are not suffering from acute illnesses. All elderly persons who have previously received influenza vaccines can safely receive COVID-19 vaccines.

     Shek Lei Community Hall is located at 2 Tai Pak Tin Street, Kwai Chung. Residents of Kwai Tsing District can contact the Kwai Tsing District Office at 4647 6097 for enquiries.

Ends/Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:26

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