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Arrangements for children aged 5 to 11 to receive COVID-19 vaccines
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     The Government announced today (January 20) that children aged 5 to 11 can receive the Sinovac vaccine from tomorrow (January 21) with reservation service starting from 8am, while the reservation for BioNTech vaccination will start on February 9 and the vaccination service will commence on February 16. 
       
     "The Government attaches great importance to the vaccination of children and will provide them with special channels to receive vaccination. Under the threat posed by mutant virus strains with high transmissibility, eligible persons, both young and old, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection," a Government spokesman said.  
  
Sinovac vaccine 
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     The Government will provide a special appointment service for schools at the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) or the Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) and a transport service from and to schools. Arrangements will also be made for the COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Stations to provide the outreach Sinovac vaccination service at schools.   
       
     Schools can also liaise with the Education Bureau on arrangements for the outreach Sinovac vaccination service at schools by visiting doctors. 
       
     Starting from 8am tomorrow, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive the Sinovac vaccine at the CVCs or the designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) and accompany them to receive the vaccine in person. 
  
     The Chai Wan, Lam Tin, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Western SHSCs of the Department of Health (www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/covid19/covid19_vaccination_in_shsc.html) will expand their Sinovac vaccination service to cover students of primary and secondary schools starting from tomorrow. Parents/guardians can call 2856 9133 during office hours for reservations. 
       
     Eligible persons can also make an appointment to receive the Sinovac vaccine through more than 1 000 private doctors or clinics that participate in the Vaccination Programme. For details, please visit: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/VSS.
  
     An interval of 28 days is required for children to receive the first and the second doses of the Sinovac vaccine, which is the same for adults. 
  
BioNTech vaccine 
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     ​As the BioNTech vaccine for children requires a special dilution procedure, and in accordance with the recommendation by the Joint Scientific Committees and Expert Advisory Panel that an interval of 12 weeks is required for children to receive the first and the second doses of the BioNTech vaccine, the Government will set up three Children Community Vaccination Centers (CCVCs) on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the vaccine. 
       
     Located in Hong Kong Children's Hospital and the multi-purpose arena on the first floor of Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre, the CCVCs will be operated by the Hospital Authority and will come into service from February 16. The CCVC at Gleneagles Hospital will be run by the University of Hong Kong and begin its service from February 24. 
  
     Apart from the CCVCs, children aged 5 to 11 cannot receive the BioNTech vaccine at other venues. 
       
     Starting from February 9, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive vaccination at the CCVCs through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). 
       
     The Government will also provide a special appointment service for schools at the CCVCs and a transport service from and to schools. 
       
     The Education Bureau will issue a letter to inform schools about the arrangements for receiving the vaccines. 
  
Points to note 
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     Children are required to bring along a consent form signed by their parents on the date of vaccination. The consent form can be downloaded from the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/Consent_Form_for_COVID19_Vaccination_ENG.pdf). They must be accompanied by their parents/guardians in person when receiving vaccination. 
       
     Persons have to bring along the original identity documents on the date of vaccination. If the identity documents do not bear the photo of children such as the birth certificate, school documents (such as school handbooks) bearing a photo of the student must be presented at the time of vaccination. 
       
     The minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine will be lowered to 5 from January 21. The minimum age for receiving the BioNTech vaccine will be lowered to 5 from February 16. 
       
     Members of the public can learn more relevant information by making reference to the continuous benefit-risk analysis of the authorised COVID-19 vaccines by the Advisory Panel on COVID-19 Vaccines (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/12/P2022011200679.htm) as well as an update of the consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children by the scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700600.htm). 
  
     Before making an appointment, please take note of a minimum interval of 14 days between COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccination (including seasonal influenza vaccination). 
 
Ends/Thursday, January 20, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:30
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