Non-Hong Kong residents no longer offered free vaccination under the Government’s programme, effective 16 January 2023

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Non-Hong Kong residents in need may take a COVID-19 vaccination at their own cost via private healthcare organisations providing such services.

The HKSAR government has announced that, starting from 16 January 2023, all free vaccinations will no longer be offered to non-Hong Kong residents under the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (Government Vaccination Programme).

This comes amidst the recent increase in the demand for COVID-19 vaccination by Hong Kong residents, aimed to ensure that Hong Kong residents are accorded priority in the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines under the Programme and healthcare resources are utilised prudently.

Private healthcare organisations in Hong Kong have been offering self-paid Comirnaty bivalent vaccination service since early January. Non-Hong Kong residents have been advised to go for this service from local private doctors, clinics, and hospitals which provide the self-paid service.

In the case where individual non-Hong Kong residents have received vaccines under the Government Vaccination Programme or hold an appointment registration under the Programme prior to the implementation date of the adjusted arrangement (i.e. 16 January 2023), and their permitted limit of stay in Hong Kong as stated on the landing slips or extension of stay labels issued by the Immigration Department is no less than 30 days counting from the day of receiving the additional COVID-19 dose, they will be required to present the relevant vaccination or appointment records when making an appointment and visiting the vaccination site for vaccination. They will only be arranged to receive vaccination after the relevant records have been verified.

"It has all along been the HKSAR Government's policy objective to ensure a sufficient supply of vaccines for Hong Kong residents under the Government Vaccination Programme, and the Government has procured sufficient vaccines for use under the Government Vaccination Programme. Self-paid vaccination service provided by private healthcare organisations will not affect the supply of vaccines under the Government Vaccination Programme," said a Government spokesperson.

"We would like to stress again that non-Hong Kong residents visiting Hong Kong for a short term of stay will not be allowed to receive free vaccination under the Government Vaccination Programme. Non-Hong Kong residents may receive COVID-19 vaccines offered by local private doctors, clinics and hospitals at their own cost."

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