The Hospital Authority announced today that specific groups of immunocompromised patients will be provided with an identification document so that they can receive the third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine earlier.

​The scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection recommended that people with chronic illnesses in general should receive the third jab at least six months after the second dose.

For specific groups of immunocompromised patients, they should receive the third dose of a vaccine four weeks after the second one.

The authority said that public hospital patients who belong to the specific groups of immunocompromised patients need to present the identification document issued by the hospitals in order to receive the third jab four weeks after and within six months from the second dose.

Those who have received the second dose of vaccination over four weeks can go directly to the community vaccination centres or COVID-19 vaccination stations at public hospitals with the identification document to get the third jab, or make online bookings.

For patients who have received the second dose for more than six months, they can take the third dose anytime under the category of people with chronic illnesses without the need of showing the identification document.

The authority noted that identification documents will be given to eligible patients who have taken two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and have a follow-up appointment or treatment session in the near future.

Other patients who do not have a recent follow-up appointment will receive phone calls or mail from the hospitals about the arrangement.