****************************************
From 2pm on Monday (February 2), Hong Kong live poultry workers may receive free vaccination for personal protection against influenza at one of the 16 designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority, a spokesman for the Department of Health said today (January 31).
The Advisory Committee on Immunization, at a meeting yesterday, endorsed the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s recommendation that all persons exposed to infected chickens or to farms under suspicion should receive influenza vaccination to avoid simultaneous infection by human influenza. The committee also noted that Hong Kong has no reported human case of H5 influenza currently. Nonetheless, the committee recommended poultry workers to receive vaccination for personal protection against influenza.
The spokesman said the vaccination programme covers about 6000 chicken and pigeon farmers and market/street live poultry stall keepers. They will start receiving invitations from DH through their contacts from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), encouraging them to receive the vaccination at a Hospital Authority clinic as early as possible in the coming week.
The 16 designated clinics of the Hospital Authority are:
Clinic/Address/Telephone
Hong Kong
---------
Aberdeen Jockey Club Clinic*
10 Aberdeen Reservoir Road, Aberdeen
2555 0381/2
Sai Ying Pun Jockey Club Polyclinic*
134 Queen's Road West, Sai Ying Pun
2859 8204
Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club Clinic*
8 Chai Wan Road, Shaukeiwan
2560 0211
Kowloon
-------
Central Kowloon Health Centre*
147 Argyle Street, Kowloon
2762 1456
Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club Clinic*
145 Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei
2272 2400
Kowloon Bay Health Centre
9 Kai Yan Street, Kowloon Bay
2116 2811/2116 2812
Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) Health Centre*
G/F, 28 Po Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O
2191 1083
East Kowloon Polyclinic
160 Hammer Hill Road, Diamond Hill
2320 4240
Shek Kip Mei Health Centre
2 Berwick Street, Shek Kip Mei
2788 3023
South Kwai Chung Jockey Club Polyclinic
310 Kwai Shing Circuit, Kwai Chung
2419 1747
Tung Chung Health Centre*
1/F, 6 Fu Tung Street, Tung Chung, Lantau Island
2109 6830
New Territories
---------------
Yuen Chau Kok Clinic
G/F, 29 Chap Wai Kon Street, Shatin
2647 3383
Tai Po Jockey Club Clinic*
G/F, 37 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po
2664 2039
Fanling Family Medicine Centre
1/F, Fanling Health Centre, 2 Pik Fung Road, Fanling
2639 4601
Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre*
269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long
2476 0221/3
Yan Oi Polyclinic
6 Tuen Lee Street, Tuen Mun
2458 9311
* with evening clinic (6pm - 10pm)
Upon presentation of the form issued by DH, people who are to be vaccinated will be given the vaccine on the same day as far as possible, or be given an appointment at a later date.
Staff of AFCD and FEHD who are in regular contact with poultry or are expected to be involved in avian influenza prevention and control activities will also be encouraged to receive vaccination at the above clinics. We expect around the same number of staff to be covered in this exercise.
Ends/Saturday, January 31, 2004
NNNN
