Doctor Arrested Over Issuing Vaccine Exemptions

Police have arrested a 64-year-old doctor over a clinic that allegedly issued hundreds of medical exemption certificates for Covid-19 vaccinations without carrying out medical consultations.

Investigators said late on Monday that they took action against the Yuen Long clinic after receiving complaints. It's alleged to have issued more than 6,000 vaccine exemption certificates last month, charging HK$500 a time.

The arrested woman is said to be the operator of the clinic.

Chief Executive John Lee issued a stern warning over improperly issuing vaccine exemptions ahead of Tuesday's Executive Council meeting.

“I have to stress that using or issuing a false document is a serious offence," he said.

"If any medical staff is suspected of violating their professional conduct, we will definitely refer the case to the Medical Council for serious follow up."

The government on Tuesday night, issued a statement which stressed that the two Covid vaccines available in Hong Kong, Sinovac and BioNTech, are safe and people would expose themselves to infection and even death if they are not vaccinated.

A spokesman said it is "extremely irresponsible" of people entering premises that are under the vaccine pass with fraudulent medical exemption certificates, adding it is also an offence to use the certificate obtained through improper means.

He said the exemption only caters to an extremely small number of people who are not suitable to get inoculated because of health reasons.

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