The Government will extend the opening hours of four children community vaccination centres (CCVCs) on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays to between 8am and 8pm starting from April 23 until May 15.

Parents or guardians can make reservations online for their children aged 5 to 11 to receive the BioNTech vaccination free of charge during the extended opening hours starting from 9am tomorrow.

The CCVCs at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre and Tsuen Wan Sports Centre will open as usual from 10am to 6pm daily on weekdays, while extending their opening hours to between 8am and 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until May 15.

The CCVCs will be closed daily between 1.30pm and 2.30pm for cleaning.

Noting that serious and even fatal cases involving children have been recorded during the fifth wave of the epidemic, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip urged parents and guardians to consider the risk to children of serious illness and death from infection and arrange a COVID-19 vaccination for their children as soon as possible.

He hoped that the extension of opening hours of CCVCs can assist parents to bring their children to receive the vaccination during holidays.

Additionally, children aged 3 to 11 can also receive a vaccination at community vaccination centres, the Hospital Authority’s general out-patient clinics, the Department of Health’s Student Health Service Centres and private clinics where the Sinovac vaccine is provided.

Parents or guardians are advised to make reservations at the designated website for their children aged 3 to 11 to receive the third dose of the Sinovac vaccine three months after the children have received their second dose.