The Social Welfare Department today announced that the vaccine bubble will be implemented in all residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities.

From February 24, all people who are employed by and on duty at these care homes and day service units attached to the premises of residential care homes, or who provide services to residents or users through hire-of-service contracts with residential care homes or the aforementioned units are required to have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Those who are unfit for vaccination due to health reasons with relevant proof from a medical practitioner will be exempted from the vaccination requirement.

Institution staff who have only received the first dose are still required to complete COVID-19 vaccination within eight weeks from the day of receiving the first dose.

The prevailing arrangement for testing fee exemptions for institution staff who are required to undergo compulsory testing in the community testing centres, mobile specimen collection stations or Temporary Testing Centres will remain unchanged for the time being.

The Government has been urging the institutions to encourage their staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible. At present, about 95% of institution staff have received at least their first dose.