Hong Kong residents will need to ensure they have had their third Covid-19 jab by May 31 in order to access the Vaccine Pass scheme, the government announced on Sunday. The requirement was brought forward from June 30.
From February 24, residents aged 12 or over are barred from entering 23 categories of premises – including restaurants, malls, supermarkets and wet markets – unless they can present valid proof of at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
See also: Guide to Vaccine Pass
Those who had a second jab within six months before May 31 will still be able to use the scheme. Those who have recovered from Covid will be relieved of the third jab requirement, but will need to get a second dose within six months of recovery.
The updated vaccine pass requirement – click to view.
Sunday’s press release said that people will now need to get their third jab within six months of the second, whereas previously, they could wait for up to nine months.
“The relevant arrangement has taken into account the enthusiasm showed by members of the public in getting vaccinated since the start of the year, and that the Government has sufficient vaccine doses and vaccination capacity to get all eligible citizens of Hong Kong vaccinated with three doses before the deadline,” the Food and Health Bureau statement said.
Those with a medical exemption certificate will continue to be exempt from the scheme’s vaccine requirement.
Hong Kong reported 14,149 Covid cases on Sunday and 246 deaths. In all, the city has seen over a million cases and over 5,000 deaths.
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