The Government today reminded the public that the use of COVID-19 vaccination medical exemption certificates suspected of abuse in issuance will not be accepted for Vaccine Pass purposes from October 12.

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 jab exemption certificates.

As announced by the Government earlier, the exemption certificates issued by these doctors will be deemed invalid from October 12.

As a result, no person is allowed to use the QR codes on the exemption certificates concerned for entering premises subject to the Vaccine Pass by then.

The Government will update the QR Code Verification Scanner mobile app to version 4.4.3 to assist persons-in-charge of premises subject to active checking of the pass to identify the QR codes and record the information of the people who present the QR codes.

If an invalid QR code is identified, the scanner will give a sound alert and display a message to warn that entry of the relevant person is not allowed.

The Government stressed that since the seven private doctors are suspected to have failed to provide proper medical consultation to patients and give appropriate clinical assessment before issuing the exemption certificates as stipulated in the department's guidelines, 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.

Such individuals should seek medical consultation again from other doctors to ascertain whether they are suitable for the jab or can continue to be medically exempted.

They may consult a doctor from the public healthcare system by visiting the Hospital Authority's general outpatient clinics, with the $50 service fee exempted.

The Government also reiterated that if a person uses an exemption certificate which is not accepted to enter premises subject to the Vaccine Pass, information in the QR code will be recorded by the scanner at the premises that proactively check the pass.

Government enforcement officers are also entitled to require citizens to present their vaccination record and exemption certificate QR Code.

If a person is found to have used an exemption certificate which is not accepted or is fraudulent, relevant information will be passed to enforcement departments for follow-up.

Using a false instrument knowingly may contravene the Crimes Ordinance and offenders shall be liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment, the Government added.