People aged 18 and above who have received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine with the second dose received six months ago, can make reservations for the third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from January 1, the Government announced today. 

They can also collect same-day tickets and get the third jab at the community vaccination centres (CVCs) without a prior booking for the same day.

People under certain groups have been arranged to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on a priority basis since November 11. The arrangements were expanded to cover people who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine with the second dose received six months ago.   

In accordance with the recommendations by the two scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection, the Government has decided to further expand the arrangements for the third-dose vaccination.

Members of the public who have received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine or the Sinovac vaccine six months ago can receive a third dose starting January 1.

Before making an appointment, people should take note of a minimum 14-day interval between a COVID-19 vaccination and any other vaccinations, including the seasonal flu vaccine.

Immunocompromised people should bring along a medical certificate on the day of vaccination, so that they can receive the third dose between four weeks and three months from their second dose.

This group of people includes cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, advanced-stage HIV patients and people taking active immunosuppressive drugs.

Additionally, people who have recovered from previous COVID-19 infection and have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine six months ago, can receive a second dose at the CVCs.

People aged between 12 and 17 can make reservations for the second dose of the BioNTech vaccine at least 12 weeks after the first dose of the BioNTech vaccine. 

In accordance with the recommendations by the experts, for adolescents receiving the BioNTech vaccine, the vaccine will be administered in the mid-anterolateral thigh.

To tie-in with all these new arrangements that will take effect on January 1, nine CVCs will operate daily and their opening hours will be extended from 8am to 8pm.

Separately, from December 30, COVID-19 Vaccination Stations will be set up at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po and Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan to provide a walk-in service for BioNTech vaccination.

One more new mobile vaccination station operating in the form of a container will start operation on January 7.