The Government will provide assistance to certain patients who hold a COVID-19 vaccination medical exemption certificate to assess whether they are suitable for the jab, after several doctors failed to follow proper procedures.

Seven private doctors are suspected of failing to provide proper medical consultation to patients in accordance with the Department of Health's guidelines and abusing the issuance of exemption certificates.

The Government announced earlier that the exemption certificates issued by these doctors will not be accepted and will be deemed invalid from October 12.

People who hold such exemption certificates may consult other doctors to determine whether they are suitable for receiving COVID-19 vaccination or can continue to be medically exempted.

The Government also encourages them to visit the Hospital Authority's general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) where public sector doctors can ascertain whether they can continue to obtain medical exemption according to their clinical condition.

To further offer convenience to such individuals to consult public sector doctors, the Government said they may now make appointments for GOPC services through the telephone appointment system or the "Book GOPC" function in the authority's HA Go mobile app.

They may also visit the GOPCs directly and clinic staff will help them arrange consultations on the same day or make appointments, with the $50 service fees exempted.

The Government stressed that, since relevant doctors are suspected to have failed to provide proper medical consultation to patients in accordance with the department's guidelines and with appropriate clinical assessments before issuing the exemption certificates, if people continue to delay vaccination according to relevant exemption certificates' recommendations, not only may they be at risk of severe illness or even death from COVID-19, but they will also place an unnecessary burden on the public healthcare system.

Furthermore, if a person is found to have used an invalid or fraudulent exemption certificate, the case will be passed to enforcement departments for follow-up.

The Government reiterated that using a false instrument knowingly may contravene the Crimes Ordinance and offenders shall be liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. Citizens should not defy the law and use exemption certificates obtained through improper means.