Govt staff should get jab

August 2, 2021

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

 

The Government announced that starting today, all government employees will be subject to vaccination in lieu of regular testing to build a strong defence against COVID-19 and its mutant strains.

 

Making the announcement at a press conference this afternoon, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip said that while about 70% of civil servants have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, such an arrangement is still necessary to protect the public who are served by government employees.

 

Under the new arrangement, should the government employees choose not to receive vaccination, they are required to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based (PCR) nucleic acid tests using combined nasal and throat swabs at community testing centres every two weeks, regardless of their duties, work nature and work place.

 

From September 1, save for those unfit to receive the vaccination because of medical conditions supported by a medical certificate, government staff who have not received their first vaccine dose should take the PCR tests outside working hours at their own expense.

 

The civil service chief noted that vaccination in lieu of regular testing has been implemented since May 31 by phases with sufficient time being given for government employees to get the jab.

 

Mr Nip added that the Government will handle cases of employees failing to observe the new requirement for reasons other than being medically unfit in accordance with the established practice.

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