The Government announced today (January 12) that, starting from January 16, all free vaccination will no longer be offered to non-Hong Kong residents under the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (Government Vaccination Programme). Non-Hong Kong residents in need may receive COVID-19 vaccination at their own cost via private healthcare organisations providing vaccination services.
 
     The Government had announced earlier that, except for certain circumstances, Hong Kong residents would be accorded priority to receive free Comirnaty bivalent vaccine and the paediatric and toddler formulation of the Comirnaty vaccine under the Government Vaccination Programme from December 23, 2022. Non-Hong Kong residents who meet certain staying requirements may continue to receive the Comirnaty ancestral strain vaccine and CoronaVac vaccine under the Government Vaccination Programme.
 
     Having considered the recent increase in the demand of Hong Kong residents for COVID-19 vaccination, and the gradual rollout of self-paid vaccination services by private healthcare organisations, the Government will adjust from January 16 the free vaccination arrangement under the Government Vaccination Programme. According to the adjusted arrangement, COVID-19 vaccination of any kind will no longer be offered to non-Hong Kong residents under the Government Vaccination Programme in order to ensure that Hong Kong residents are accorded priority in the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines under the Programme and healthcare resources are utilised prudently.

     As for individual non-Hong Kong residents, if they have received vaccines under the Government Vaccination Programme or hold an appointment registration under the Government Vaccination Programme before the implementation date of the adjusted arrangement (January 16), and have met the staying requirement (Note), they will be required to present the relevant vaccination or appointment records when making an appointment and visiting the vaccination site for vaccination. They will only be arranged to receive vaccination after the relevant records have been verified.
 
     Private healthcare organisations have been offering self-paid Comirnaty bivalent vaccination service since early January. Non-Hong Kong residents may receive COVID-19 vaccination service from local private doctors, clinics and hospitals which provide the self-paid service.

     A Government spokesman said, "It has all along been the HKSAR Government's policy objective to ensure a sufficient supply of vaccines for Hong Kong residents under the Government Vaccination Programme, and the Government has procured sufficient vaccines for use under the Government Vaccination Programme. Self-paid vaccination service provided by private healthcare organisations will not affect the supply of vaccines under the Government Vaccination Programme. We would like to stress again that non-Hong Kong residents visiting Hong Kong for a short term of stay will not be allowed to receive free vaccination under the Government Vaccination Programme. Non-Hong Kong residents may receive COVID-19 vaccines offered by local private doctors, clinics and hospitals at their own cost."

Note: Generally refers to the permitted limit of stay in Hong Kong as stated on the landing slips or extension of stay labels issued by the Immigration Department. The limit of stay must be no less than 30 days counting from the day of receiving the additional COVID-19 dose.

Ends/Thursday, January 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:35

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