A woman scans the QR code for the LeaveHomeSafe COVID 19 mobile app at a shopping mall in Hong Kong on July 12, 2022, a government's contact tracing code. KIN CHEUNG AP Hong Kong's contact tracing app LeaveHomeSafe was updated on Tuesday with a function that allows users to store the vaccination records of up to eight of their companions, including children aged 15 or below.
The vaccine pass arrangement is being extended to children as young as five days after the vaccine pass arrangement is being extended to children as young as five.
Beginning September 30, children aged 5 to 11 must comply with the vaccine requirements under the Vaccine Pass while entering any applicable premises of the Vaccine Pass. They have already received two doses of a COVID- 19 vaccine or are within the three-month period after receiving the first dose.
READ MORE: HK to include children aged 5 -- 11 in the vaccine pass.
The grace period for people aged 12 or above to receive the third dose after the second dose of the vaccine will be shortened from six months to five months under the Vaccine Pass, the government said on Tuesday evening.
The new function to the LeaveHomeSafe was added to facilitate the new Vaccine Pass arrangement.
After a user update the app, they can store their own Vaccine Pass as well as those of a maximum of eight companions, including children aged 15 or below, elderly aged 65 or above, and persons with disabilities.
The government said that this will allow app users to store the Vaccine Pass for their companions who are exempt from using the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to help them present the Vaccine Pass while entering the applicable premises together.
Parents can use the eHealth mobile app and add their children as My Family Member to retrieve and present their Vaccine Pass as well as those of their children, according to the statement.
It added that children and their family members can bring along and present a paper record printed with the QR code or present a photo of the code saved in a mobile phone for use as a Vaccine Pass.
A government spokesman said that the third dose vaccine rate in Hong Kong has reached 77 percent, despite the fact that the COVID-19 vaccination rates of the young and old, who are targeted groups for protection, still have room for improvement. The implementation of the Vaccine Pass is intended to boost the vaccination rate, strengthen the immunity barrier against the epidemic and allow Hong Kong people to resume normal life in an orderly manner. The government reminded persons in charge of premises that carrying or presenting the Vaccine Pass QR code by the aforesaid means are allowed under the Vaccine Pass arrangement.
The QR Code Verification Scanner mobile app has been updated to version 4.4. 2 to assist persons-in charge of premises to check the Vaccine Pass of visitors according to the latest vaccination requirements under the Vaccine Pass.
The statement says that they should download the latest version of the QR Code Verification Scanner as soon as possible.