Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung today visited West Kowloon Maternal & Child Health Centre (MCHC) to learn about the arrangements for providing the COVID-19 vaccination service for children there and also the views of parents.

Mrs Yeung was briefed by Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam on the vaccination services for children at maternal and child health centres. Starting from August 15, parents can have their young children receive the Sinovac vaccine at 28 MCHCs of the Department of Health when they receive services there.

Mrs Yeung said under the epidemic, she noted that parents might not go out often with their young children, but most of them would take them to MCHCs to receive examinations, assessments and various vaccines.

MCHCs play an essential role in boosting the COVID-19 vaccination rate among young children, she added.

Mrs Yeung hoped that more parents will take advantage of this convenient channel to arrange vaccinations for their children and hoped medical professionals will step up their efforts of explaining to parents the benefits of the vaccine to ease their concerns.

In order to further enable parents to arrange for a COVID-19 vaccination for their young children, all children aged six months to three years old can receive the Sinovac vaccine at Sai Wan Ho MCHC, Tang Chi Ngong MCHC, Lam Tin MCHC, Ma On Shan MCHC and Yan Oi MCHC starting from August 29.

Parents can make an appointment through the online booking system for their children starting from 9am on August 26.

Parents or guardians may make an appointment for the Sinovac vaccination at community vaccination centres or designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority for their children through the booking system of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

They may also choose to make an appointment to have their children receive the Sinovac vaccine for free from private doctors and clinics participating in the vaccination programme.