Children aged from 6 months to 3 years may receive the Sinovac vaccine starting from today (August 4). The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in To Kwa Wan today to view the vaccination of children and appealed to parents to arrange COVID-19 vaccination for their children as soon as possible.
 
     The kindergarten-cum-child care centre is the first premises having children vaccinated through outreach service after the lowering of the minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine to 6 months old.
 
     She then visited a Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) in Kwun Tong, where about 15 children aged under 3 years old received COVID-19 vaccination.

     Mrs Yeung said that the Government will continue to increase the number of vaccination venues to facilitate the early vaccination of the public. Maternal and Child Health Centres under the Department of Health are also preparing to provide the Sinovac vaccination service to children aged from 6 months to 3 years when they receive regular services with bookings, e.g. the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, from mid-August.
 
     She added that, in order to let children receive vaccination in a more relaxing environment, five CVCs providing the Sinovac vaccine have retrofitted some vaccination booths specifically for children and decorated them with stickers of animal cartoons. Breastfeeding areas and areas for changing diapers have also been set up for use by parents in need.
 
     Parents or guardians can also make appointments for their children to receive the Sinovac vaccine at CVCs or designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority through the online booking system (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk). Parents can also opt for making reservation for free Sinovac vaccination through more than 1 000 private doctors or clinics that participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
 
     Parents are required to present the original copy of their children's birth certificate and bring along a consent form signed by the parents on the date of vaccination of the children. 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). The children must be accompanied by their parents/guardians in person when receiving vaccination.
 
     The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.

Ends/Thursday, August 4, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:58

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