The Government will launch the citywide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme from February 26 and five priority groups may make an appointment via the online booking system from February 23.

Announcing the programme details today, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip said for the two vaccines procured under the advance purchase agreement, the first batch of one million doses of Sinovac will arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow, while the first batch of one million doses of the Fosun Pharma/BioNTech vaccine, manufactured in Germany, are expected to arrive by the end of this month.

Noting that the vaccines will arrive in Hong Kong in batches, Mr Nip said there is a need for the Government to identify priority groups for vaccination with a view to taking forward the programme in a gradual and orderly manner.

Healthcare staff and staff involved in anti-epidemic work, people aged 60 or above, residents and staff of residential care homes for the elderly and disabled, people providing essential public services as well as those providing cross-boundary transport or working at control points and ports are classified as priority groups.

A maximum of two carers who accompany seniors aged 70 or above can also be vaccinated.

The Government will set up 29 Community Vaccination Centres, which will operate from 8am to 8pm daily, in the 18 districts across the city.

Among the vaccination centres, five will provide the Sinovac vaccine, while 24 will provide the Fosun Pharma/BioNTech one. 

In the first phase, priority groups have to make prior appointments for receiving the vaccination in the five centres which provide the Sinovac vaccine or in the 18 Hospital Authority general outpatient clinics so that adequate vaccines can be reserved according to the bookings and wastage reduced.

Over 1,200 private doctors of more than 1,500 clinics participating in the programme are expected to administer the Sinovac vaccine before mid March.

For residents of residential care homes for the elderly and disabled as well as nursing homes, the Government will arrange outreach vaccination teams formed by doctors and nurses to provide vaccination services to them.

Mr Nip encouraged members of the public to get vaccinated early.

For information on COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccination programme, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.