Persons with chronic illnesses encouraged to vaccinate early and identification document to be issued to immunocompromised patients
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To dovetail with the Government's vaccination arrangement for the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the Hospital Authority (HA) today (November 10) reminds specific groups of immunocompromised patients about the importance of vaccination, and identification document will be provided to facilitate them to receive the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine earlier according to expert advice.
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 recommended persons with chronic illnesses in general should receive the third dose of vaccine at least six months after the second dose. While specific groups of immunocompromised patients (see table below) should receive the third dose four weeks after the second dose.
"Public hospital patients belonging to the specific groups of immunocompromised patients need to present the identification document issued by the hospitals in order to receive the third dose of vaccine four weeks after and within six months from the second dose," the HA spokesperson said.
"Patients who have received two dose of vaccines and have a follow-up appointment or treatment session in the near future will be provided with the identification document during the session. The hospitals will inform the patients by phone or mail to facilitate their vaccination if they don't have a recent follow-up appointment."
The spokesperson supplemented that these specific groups of patients who received the second dose of vaccination over four weeks can go directly to the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) or the COVID-19 Vaccination Stations at public hospitals with the identification document, or make bookings in the thematic website. Those patients who have received the second dose of vaccine for over six months can receive the third dose anytime under the category of persons with chronic illnesses without the need of showing the identification document.
The HA will continue to support the Government in the operation of seven CVCs and the COVID-19 Vaccination Stations in nine public hospitals to facilitate members of the public to receive vaccination for BioNTech. At the same time, Ma On Shan Family Medicine Centre and Tin Shui Wai (Tin Yip Road) Community Health Centre will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccination service for Sinovac.
The spokesperson appeals to persons with chronic illnesses who have not yet received COVID-19 vaccination to vaccinate early before the next wave of epidemic, to protect themselves from the risks of severe condition and death if being infected.
| Specific groups of immunocompromised patients |
| 1. Cancer or hematological malignancy on active immunosuppressive treatment now or in the past 12 months |
| 2. Recipients of solid organ transplant or stem cell transplant on immunosuppressive treatment |
| 3. Severe primary immunodeficiency or on chronic dialysis |
| 4. Advanced or untreated HIV infection |
| 5. On active immunosuppressive drugs, or immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the past six months |
Ends/Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Issued at HKT 20:50
Issued at HKT 20:50
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