The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, today (July 9) led the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) Volunteer Team and the volunteer team of the Administrative Service Association to outlying islands, partnering with outreach medical staff to assist elderly persons and persons with special needs to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

     Following their participation in volunteer service for the Home Vaccination Service last month, civil service volunteers have kept up their good work and reached out to Lantau Island, Peng Chau, Cheung Chau and Lamma Island in five small teams to serve elderly persons there.

     Mrs Yeung and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, joined the outreach teams to visit Tai O to assist in the vaccination of elderly persons. During the visit, they also took the opportunity to chat to the elderly persons to learn about their daily lives and needs.

     "More than 60 persons are expected to get vaccinated through the Home Vaccination Service today, with over 80 per cent of them being elderly persons aged 70 or above. More than 10 recipients are aged over 90, including a female centenarian. Since some of the vaccine recipients live in relatively remote locations for which point-to-point transport service may not be available, it might take a longer time for us to arrive at the residence of each recipient. Given the hot weather today, the medical staff and volunteers have paid extra attention to the storage of vaccine doses and the condition of supporting equipment. With concerted efforts, we are striving to serve the elderly persons wholeheartedly in the hope that they can receive vaccine protection as early as possible," Mrs Yeung said.

     Since the launch of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the outreach medical staff, the CSB staff responsible for liaison work and volunteers have coped with various kinds of challenges brought about by unexpected situations such as weather changes. The Home Vaccination Service is dedicated to providing door-to-door vaccination service to elderly persons aged 70 or above or persons with impaired mobility due to illness or physical disability who have not received COVID-19 vaccination before. Various medical organisations or groups have so far formed a total of 1 483 small teams and administered over 30 000 vaccine doses for persons aged 70 or above and persons with impaired mobility.

     Mrs Yeung thanked the elderly persons for supporting COVID-19 vaccination, and expressed gratitude to the civil service volunteers taking part in the Home Vaccination Service. She encouraged civil servants to actively participate in various volunteer services. She also encouraged government departments to join forces with various local organisations and social welfare organisations in the course of planning for volunteer service for building a caring society together.

     Persons with special needs can register for the free door-to-door vaccination service via the Home Vaccination Service website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/hv) or enquiry hotline (Tel: 5688 5234). For members of the public who have elderly family members who they can take to a nearby vaccination venue, they are advised to make reservations or collect same-day tickets for vaccination immediately so that the elderly persons can receive vaccine protection as early as possible.

     The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.

Ends/Saturday, July 9, 2022
Issued at HKT 14:24

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