Vaccination priority groups to be expanded to cover people aged 30 or above*************************

The Government announced today (March 15) that the priority groups under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be expanded to cover people aged between 30 and 59, students aged 16 or above studying outside Hong Kong and domestic helpers.

Members of the public in these new categories can make reservations starting from 9am tomorrow (March 16) through the online booking system on the designated website of the Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk) for receiving vaccines at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and the 18 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority. They can also make appointments for vaccination with a private doctor or clinic participating in the programme.

"We believe that members of the public are concerned and worried about the recent cluster outbreak in a fitness centre which has led to an increase of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a short period of time. Apart from striving to contain the epidemic at the soonest and continuing to maintain good personal hygiene, it is of utmost importance for people to get vaccinated as early as possible," a spokesman for the Government said.

"Taking into account the supply of the vaccines and the operation of the Vaccination Programme, we have decided to expand the scope of the priority groups so as to allow more people to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect oneself and others."

The priority groups, after expansion, are as follows:

1. Persons aged 30 years or above (a maximum of two carers who accompany elderly people aged 70 or above can also receive vaccination);

2. Personnel in healthcare settings and those participating in anti-epidemic related work;

3. Residents and staff of residential care homes for the elderly/residential care homes for persons with disabilities and staff of community care services units for the elderly/persons with disabilities;

4. Personnel maintaining critical publ