Medical Exemption Certificates suspected of abuse in issuance not to be accepted for purpose of Vaccine Pass starting October 12
******************************************************************************************
To put the above arrangement in effect, the Government has issued directions in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L), specifying that Medical Exemption Certificates issued by the seven private doctors involved (see Annex) will not be accepted for the purpose of the Vaccine Pass. At the same time, the Government has issued directions in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) restricting holders of invalid QR codes from entering catering premises and scheduled premises, and requiring persons responsible for catering premises and scheduled premises to restrict any persons presenting an invalid QR code from entering the relevant premises in accordance with the directions concerned.
The Government will update the QR Code Verification Scanner mobile application to version 4.4.3 to assist persons-in-charge of premises subject to active checking to identify the aforementioned QR codes and record the information of the persons presenting the aforementioned QR codes. If an invalid QR code is identified, the scanner will give a sound alert and display text to warn that entry is not allowed. The Government reminds persons-in-charge of relevant premises to download the latest version of the QR Code Verification Scanner as soon as possible.
Furthermore, members of the public holding an Exemption Certificate issued by the seven private doctors concerned may consult a doctor from the public healthcare system by visiting general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) under the Hospital Authority (HA). Individuals who use the relevant consult services are exempted from the service fee of the GOPC ($50). In addition to making appointments through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function in the HA's one-stop mobile application "HA Go", members of the public may also visit the GOPCs under the HA directly. The clinics will arrange for them to seek consultation on the same day or make appointments for consultation, such that doctors from the public healthcare system may ascertain whether they can continue to be medically exempted according to their clinical conditions. Members of the public may also make their own arrangements to consult other private doctors.
The Government stressed that the seven doctors are suspected to have failed to provide proper medical consultations to patients, not giving appropriate clinical assessment before issuing the Exemption Certificates as stipulated in the guidelines of the DH. If relevant individuals continue to delay vaccination according to the recommendations made by the relevant doctors on the Exemption Certificates, they may put their health at risk of severe illness or even deaths in case of COVID-19 infection, and also place an unnecessary burden on the public healthcare system. Relevant individuals should seek medical consultation again from other doctors depending on their needs to ascertain whether they are suitable for receiving COVID-19 vaccination or can continue to be medically exempted.
A Government spokesman reiterated that, once a Medical Exemption Certificate which is not accepted was used to enter premises subject to the Vaccine Pass, information in the QR code will be recorded by the scanner at premises subject to active checking. Government enforcement officers are also entitled to require citizens to present their vaccination record and Medical Exemption Certificate QR Code. If upon verification, a member of the public is found to have used an Exemption Certificate which is not accepted or is fraudulent, the relevant information will be passed to enforcement departments for follow-up. Using a false instrument knowingly may contravene the Crimes Ordinance. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for 14 years. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law and not to use Exemption Certificates obtained through improper means.
Ends/Monday, October 10, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:00
Issued at HKT 20:00
NNNN