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COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS)
School Outreach
Guide for
Primary Schools, Kindergartens, Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres (KG-cum-CCCs) and Child
Care Centres (CCCs)
February 2022 (Updated)
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A. PLANNING FOR VACCINATION SCHOOL OUTREACH
1. Inform parents about the details of COVID-19 Vaccination Programme - Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) School Outreach (Primary Schools and Kindergartens)
2. Estimate the number of participants - Schools should adequately communicate with their stakeholders in accordance with its school-based mechanism, including teachers and school staff, students and parents/guardians to estimate the number of participants planned to get vaccinated.
3. In view of overwhelming demand on the COVID-19 vaccination, the Government has decided to lower the threshold of joining COVID-19 Vaccination Programme - Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) School Outreach (Primary Schools and Kindergartens) from 150 to 100 participants, including students, staffs and students’ parents and family members, in order to allow more schools to participate in the programme. Schools can also liaise with other nearby schools and kindergartens to join the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme VSS School Outreach so that more participants can receive vaccination.
4. To speed up the preparation, schools may submit an application to the Education Bureau (EDB) for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme VSS School Outreach, as soon as they have an estimated number of participants of 100 or above, while they are still collecting the consent forms from the parents and information of the participants.
5. The EDB will match and assign a doctor for the schools concerned. Schools should liaise with the assigned doctors for the detailed arrangements for outreach vaccination.
6. Collect consent forms –The schools concerned should collect all the consent forms and confirm the number of vaccines before the day of vaccination and submitted to the doctor on the day of vaccination.
• Distribute the consent form (ANNEX A) to parents/guardians. Remind them
to read the (1) Vaccination Fact Sheet for Sinovac "CoronaVac vaccine" and
(2) FAQs before making the application (The factsheet and FAQs can be
reached through the link /QR code on the consent form.)
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• Collect and check the signed consent forms to ensure they have been completed fully.
• Arrange the consent forms having “consent” for vaccination by class and student class number in ascending order
• For minor participants (i.e. aged below 18) other than the students of the participating school(s), please also advise them to complete the consent form. Adults are not required to sign a consent form. The vaccination team will obtain verbal consent from them before vaccination.
7. If the participants cannot reach an estimated number of 100 or above, schools
can contact the doctors on the list of “Guidelines on Arranging Outreach COVID-
19 Vaccination Activities through Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS)” on their
own to arrange on-site vaccination.
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B. PREPARATORY WORK FOR THE VACCINATION ACTIVITIES
Date Preparatory Work
Preparation
2 weeks, or at least 5 working days, before vaccination
1. Inform the assigned doctor of the estimated number of participants at least 5 working days before the vaccination day so that the doctor can order the vaccines and make manpower arrangements
2. Schedule the dates for vaccination
Check and confirm there is no other vaccination activities within 14 days before and after the scheduled vaccination date. Remind participants NOT to get other vaccination.
The recommended schedule of Sinovac vaccine consists of 2 doses and they should be administered at least 28 days apart
3. Liaise with the vaccination team to discuss the arrangements for vaccination on the vaccination day, including:
Confirm the starting time, workflow, venue setting, resources and manpower arrangements (ANNEX B).
- The vaccination venue should be well lit, ventilated and clean. Adequate and separable areas should be arranged for vaccine recipients (a) to wait, (b) to register, (c) to receive vaccination, (d) to rest and stay under observation after vaccination, and (e) to provide emergency treatment if necessary.
- Prepare electricity supply for computers and printers (computers and printers to be brought by the vaccination team) and required resources, such as benches, chairs, cushions, and rubbish bins, etc..
- Work out a contingency plan for special conditions, e.g. school suspension due to inclement weather or outbreak of diseases, etc.
Provide vaccination team with the necessary support for temporary storage of clinical waste (ANNEX C)
5 At least 2 days
before vaccination
4. Distribute “Notice to Parent” to the parents of the participants (ANNEX D) and remind them of the following:
Remind students to bring along their original copy of identity documents and student handbook or student card with photo for identification on the vaccination day. (For example, KG students can wear their name badges with photo)
Remind students to have breakfast or lunch on the vaccination day
Remind students to wear clothes such that the upper arm can be exposed easily for vaccination
5. Watch for any conditions that may affect the number of vaccine recipients , e.g. outbreak of infectious diseases or other sudden events /activities, which cause consented students unable to receive the vaccines on the vaccination day, and update the list of vaccine recipients accordingly
About 1-2 day before vaccination
6. Inform the vaccination team of the updated list of vaccine recipients
7. Confirm the time and arrangement with the assigned doctor
On the Day of Vaccination
Before the starts of the vaccination activity
8. Set up the venue and prepare the workflow with reference to
“Health Advices to Schools for the Prevention of Coronavirus Diseases” issued by the Centre for Health Protection (ANNEX E)
9. Vaccination team will be responsible for arranging the vaccine delivery to the school. School staff should assist to arrange a safe and cool area for vaccine storage.
10. Inform the vaccination team before the vaccination activity starts if a consented student is unable to receive vaccination due to individual circumstances, for example, absence or sickness
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vaccination activity
11. Responsible teachers should accompany students to the vaccination venue, assist in identifying students and maintain order. (Please only bring the consented students to the vaccination venue.)
12. Remind students to bring along their original copy of identity documents and student handbook or student card with photo for identification. (For example, KG students can wear their name badges with photo)
13. Distribute the signed consent forms to each student and arrange them to line up for vaccination.
14. Maintain order and support the vaccination team for vaccination as necessary.
Upon completion of the vaccination activity
15. After completion of vaccination, arrange the students to stay in the observation area for 30 minutes.
16. If recipients have adverse reactions after vaccination, inform the healthcare professionals immediately for assessment and treatment to them.
17. Schools should keep a proper list of vaccine recipients, including the vaccinated students, parents and teachers. After vaccination, schools should duly complete EDB’s form (i.e.
Annex 2 of the letter issued by the EDB on 21 January 2022) and return to the respective school development sections/ Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres of EDB within 5 working days for data analysis.
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ANNEX A
Sample of the Consent Form
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ANNEX A
Sample of the Consent Form
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ANNEX A
Sample of the Consent Form
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ANNEX A
Sample of the Consent Form
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ANNEX B
A schematic diagram illustrates an example of vaccination venue setup and logistics on the vaccination day
Registration Counter
Inform the outreach team before the vaccination activity starts if consented students are unable to receive vaccination
Teachers receive the consent forms from Registration Counter
Observation Area
Students can leave the vaccination venue 30 minutes after
vaccination if they show no signs of discomfort
Vaccination Area
If necessary, school staff/ workers/
parent volunteers assist in holding students
Vaccination team provides vaccination to students
Treatment Area
Vaccination may cause serious adverse reactions, therefore mattress is prepared for emergency use if needed Waiting Area
Assist students to line up by class number in ascending order
Distribute the consent forms to students
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ANNEX C
Temporary storage of clinical waste
The vaccination team would schedule the collection of clinical waste on the same day as far as possible. If collection cannot be arranged on the vaccination day, the medical organisation/ private doctor or Department of Health should inform school at least 2 weeks in advance for the details of arrangement. School must provide lockable cabinet(s) for temporary storage of the sharps boxes (size 26 x 25 x 17 cm each; Figure 1).
Figure 1: Example of a sharps box
Clinical waste collection will be arranged approximately within 2 weeks after the completion of each dose.
Name of Organisation/
Healthcare Worker
XXX Clinic/
Dr XXX
Emergency Contact No. XXXX XXXX
Address of Clinical Waste
Generation XXX School, XXX Road.
Premises Code PC02/XX/XXXXXXXXXX
Date of Sealing DD/MM/YYYY
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ANNEX C
Specifications of cabinet for clinical waste storage
The cabinet should only be used for storage of clinical waste and must be lockable
The cabinet must be located in a covered place, which is unaffected by weather
The outside of the cabinet must be labelled by the medical organisation/
private doctor or Department of Health with the name of the medical organisation/ private doctor, emergency contact number and premises code, etc. (Figure 2)
Depending on the number of vaccinated students and vaccination personnel, the cabinet should be able to contain about 6-8 sharps boxes (size: 26 x 25 x 17 cm for each box)
Figure 2: Example of warning sign and label on a cabinet for clinical waste storage
Name of Organisation/
Healthcare Worker
XXX Clinic/
Dr XXX
Emergency Contact No. XXXX XXXX
Premises Code PC02/XX/XXXXXXXXXX
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ANNEX D
Sample of Notice to Parents
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ANNEX E
Infection Control Measures
For details, please read Health Advices to Schools for the Prevention of Coronavirus
diseases at https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/advice_to_school_on_prevention_of_nid_eng.pdf
(a) Where applicable, students may be scheduled to have vaccination in school.
(b) They should be arranged in batches to receive vaccination separately.
(c) All attending students and staff should wear a mask and practice hand hygiene.
(d) All need to keep appropriate distancing (at least one meter apart) at waiting area, vaccination area, queue and other activities if any.
(e) The venue for vaccination should be kept well ventilated.
(f) The venue should be cleaned and disinfected with 1 in 99 diluted household bleach (mixing 1 part of household bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite with 99 parts of water), left for 15-30 minutes, and then rinsed with water and wiped dry. For metallic surface, disinfect with 70% alcohol. The procedure should be performed after one session, i.e. in this particular setting, performed after morning and afternoon session respectively.
