Starting from today (November 9), children aged between 6 months and 4 years could receive free vaccination of toddler formulation of the BioNTech vaccine at the four Children Community Vaccination Centres (CCVCs).
 
     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "As at 7pm yesterday (November 8), we have received about 750 bookings for vaccination of toddler formulation of the BioNTech vaccine. The population of children aged below 3 is around 104 000, but only nearly 19 per cent of the children in this age group have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
 
     "Winter is a challenge to children who have weaker resistance to diseases. The later they get vaccinated, the greater the health risks may be posed to them. Meanwhile, some parents may have outbound travel plans with their children during Christmas or Lunar New Year holidays. Even if the time is short for receiving three doses before their departure, I hope that parents would stop their vaccine hesitancy and arrange the first dose vaccination for their children immediately, and let them receive their second dose before their trip if the time allows. Unvaccinated children will have higher risks of getting seriously ill should they get infected, and seeking medical treatment abroad may be complicated. Recovered children may have to suffer from the after-effects of 'post COVID-19 condition' as well."
 
     There is no same-day ticket arrangement at the four CCVCs, and parents have to make prior bookings online. The four CCVCs are:
 
Hong Kong Children's Hospital CCVC
Address: G/F, Clinical Tower (Tower B), Hong Kong Children's Hospital, 1 Shing Cheong Road, Kowloon Bay
 
HKU CCVC at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong (on Tuesdays and Sundays)
Address: 1 Nam Fung Path, Wong Chuk Hang
 
CUHK Medical Centre (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
Address: 9 Chak Cheung Street, Sha Tin
 
Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre
Address: 176 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung
 
     For children aged 6 months to 4 years, there should be a time interval of eight weeks between their first two doses of the BioNTech vaccine. The dosing interval can be shortened to a minimum of three weeks for those with personal needs under informed consent after consideration of individual risk and benefit. Moreover, there should be a three-month interval between the second and third doses.
 
     Apart from the BioNTech vaccine, there are various vaccination venues providing the Sinovac vaccination service for children with ample vaccination quotas. Both vaccines can provide effective protection, and parents should arrange vaccination for their children.
 
     The Government will continue to provide schools with special booking and transportation services. Schools can approach the relevant Regional Education Office for detailed information.
 
     The consent form for parents who will arrange their children to receive the BioNTech vaccine can be downloaded from the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/Consent_Form_for_Fractional_BioNTech_Vaccination_ENG.pdf). Apart from the consent form, children aged 3 to 11 have to be accompanied by an adult family member, a domestic helper or a school teacher to receive vaccination; children aged below 3 have to be accompanied by their parents/guardians in person when receiving vaccination.
 
     Persons have to bring along the original identity documents on the date of vaccination. If the identity documents do not bear the child's photo, such as the birth certificate, for children already attending a school, they have to present school documents (such as school handbooks) bearing a photo of the student at the time of vaccination.

Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:09

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