COVID-19 vaccination programme
We have received some member enquiries about the vaccination programme. Through us, the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) would like to disseminate the following message to Association members, as some of them might not have received the Marine Department (MarDep) letters sent to individual shipping companies despite their employees should be eligible for priority vaccination under the current programme.
"Dear HKSOA members,
As announced by the HKSAR Government on 18 February 2021, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been rolled out for members of the public to receive free vaccination on a voluntary basis at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) to be set up in all 18 districts and participating public/private clinics. Vaccination will be arranged for the public in phases, with priority given to high-risk groups that are most vulnerable to the development of severe disease or death from COVID-19 infection, groups that have greater risks of exposure to the virus and transmitting it to susceptible and vulnerable patients, and groups that are critical for maintaining essential societal functioning.
2. One of the five categories of the priority groups include staff members of the port and maritime-related sectors, specifically the local staff members who may have contacts with sea crew onboard OGVs or river trade vessels during their course of operation. Indeed, THB and MarDep have already issued letters and emails to individual shipping companies, but for those companies who have yet to make the arrangement, please note the following details.
Reservation for vaccination
3. The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/) provides detailed and up-to-date information about the Vaccination Programme. There are three ways that the companies can arrange their staff to make reservation for vaccination -
(a) Individual staff members of the priority groups can book vaccination slots for both the first and second doses of vaccination at a chosen CVC through the online booking system linked to the dedicated website, or direct with a private clinic.
(b) Alternatively, block booking for vaccination at CVC can also be arranged. The company can send request for block booking by phone on 5275 9255 or by email to cvc_group@csb.gov.hk.
(c) If needed, our Bureau can also assist with the block booking for a group of at least 6 individuals. Designated timeslots are reserved for the priority groups of the port and shipping sectors from 8 March to 28 March -
| Vaccine | CVC | Date and Time Slot | Daily Quota |
| Sinovac | Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre, Kwai Tsing | Available Dates: 8 March to 28 March Timeslots : 08:00 | 25 |
| BioNTech | any one of the following 7 CVCs operated by Hospital Authority, upon requests and liaison with individual group: #1. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre (Central & Western) #2. Sai Wan Ho Sports Centre (Eastern) #10. Hiu Kwong Street Sports Centre (Kwun Tong) #13. Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre (Kowloon City) #15. Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre (Sham Shui Po) #18. Lung Sum Avenue Sports Centre (North) #28. Yuen Long Sports Centre (Yuen Long) (full list of CVCs and their addresses can be found at - https://booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp) | Available Dates: 8 March to 28 March Timeslots: Upon requests and liaison with individual group | Subject to availability of individual CVC and requests by the company |
- name of company,
- number of persons receiving the vaccination,
- details of contact person (name, telephone, email),
- preferred CVC,
- preferred date and timeslot of first dose (a maximum of three choices in order of preference)
5. If any of the company would like to seek assistance from THB, grateful if you can send the details to THB (contacts as shown below) as soon as possible such that they can pass them to the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) for further processing. Upon successful reservation, a confirmation email from CSB will be issued to the contact person designated by the company. The staff members intending to get vaccinated will need to bring along (1) a copy of confirmation email issued by CSB, (2) ID proof and (3) Employment proof (e.g. staff card/ completed and stamped employer’s letter) to the reserved centre on the designated day and at the designated timeslot for vaccination.
6. As far as block booking is concerned, please be reminded that CSB would only cater for a group of at least 6 persons for a single timeslot. Hence, if the company wishes to make arrangement for individual staff to take vaccines in different timeslots, registrations should be made via the online booking system.
7. For better record keeping, companies are advised to keep a log on the staff who have received the vaccination. Yet, companies are NOT required to share the staff personal information with the Government. However, companies would be invited to report the general figures such as the number of staff who have taken the vaccination, the types of vaccine they have chosen, etc. for statistical purposes.
At the Vaccination Centre
8. At the venue of vaccination, a member of the priority group has to show to the registration staff a duly completed and stamped employer’s letter which can be downloaded from the Vaccination Programme dedicated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/template_prioritygp_identity_proof.pdf). The employer’s letter will not be collected and the person can bring the same letter for receiving both doses of vaccine.
9. Should there be any enquiry on the Vaccination Programme, please call the hotline on 3142 2366. In case of any questions specifically on block booking through THB, the company may approach my colleague: (1) Miss Joanna Poon, Assistant Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport) at 35098268 or joanna_poon@thb.gov.hk OR (2) Ms Michelle Lo, Manager (Maritime), at 35097137 or michellelo@thb.gov.hk . "