The Department of Health today reminded all private doctors taking part in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to check people’s vaccination record before administering the COVID-19 vaccine to them.

It also reminded these private doctors to follow the department’s guide in providing vaccination to eligible people.

The department received on March 28 a report from a private doctor under the vaccination programme that after administering a dose of the Sinovac vaccine to a 32-year-old man, the doctor noted from the man’s electronic vaccination record through the eHealth System (Subsidies) that he had received a dose of the BioNTech vaccine at a community vaccination centre (CVC) on March 12.

The man did not disclose such information during his consultation session with the doctor. The doctor has arranged further consultation for the man to follow up on his medical condition and alleged that advice was given to the man against receiving another dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

When the department followed up on the man’s electronic vaccination record in the system, it was noted that he did not follow the doctor’s advice and had received another dose of the BioNTech vaccine, his third dose of COVID-19 vaccination, at a CVC on April 11.

He did not disclose his complete vaccination history to the CVC staff.

The department has conducted a site inspection at the private clinic concerned and no other irregularities were found.

It also made a special arrangement for medical follow-up for the man. As of now, no report on adverse events following the man’s mixed doses of vaccination has been received.

The department said it issued an advisory letter to the private doctor as well as a reminder email to all health service providers under the vaccination programme about the necessity to check for vaccination record before administering vaccines in accordance with the department’s guide.

It has also strengthened the relevant system safeguard measures of the electronic vaccination record.

The department appealed to members of the public to report their medical and vaccination record accurately to healthcare professionals and adhere to their recommendations and advice on COVID-19 vaccination.

The practice of mixed-doses vaccination involves uncertainty and risk and is still in the experimental stage, the department said, adding it should only be conducted under the supervision of healthcare professionals.