The Department of Health (DH) today (February 14) announced that its five Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) will expand its COVID-19 vaccination services to provide CoronaVac vaccine (Sinovac vaccine) for children aged three or above starting tomorrow (February 15). Parents/guardians can make appointment for vaccination through the online booking system from tomorrow onwards.

     DH's five SHSCs (Chai Wan SHSC, Lam Tin SHSC, Sha Tin SHSC, Tuen Mun SHSC and Western SHSC) is currently providing Sinovac vaccine to children/students aged five to 17. The Government earlier approved the eligibility of receiving the Sinovac vaccine to cover individuals aged three and above.

     Starting from tomorrow, DH's five SHSCs will provide Sinovac vaccine to children/students aged three to 17 from 9am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Parents/guardians can book the appointment through online booking system at booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp.

     Children receiving the vaccination have to bring along the original identity documents. If the identity documents do not bear the photo of children as in the case of birth certificate, school documents (such as school handbooks) bearing a photo of the student must be presented at the time of vaccination. They are also required to bring along a consent form signed by their parents on the date of vaccination and must be accompanied by their parents/guardians in person when receiving 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).

     Also, parents/guardians can make reservations for children to receive the Sinovac vaccine at Community Vaccination Centres or designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority through the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). Parents/guardians can also make an appointment to get the Sinovac vaccination 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, same arrangement as for adults. 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). Under the threat posed by highly transmissible mutant virus strains, eligible persons, both young and old, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection. Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are safe and highly effective in protecting against severe disease and death from COVID-19 infection," a spokesman for the DH said.

Ends/Monday, February 14, 2022
Issued at HKT 21:07

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