*****************************************
The Department of Health (DH) today (December 6) announced that about 15 000 doses of influenza vaccines will be available to private doctors to ease the current shortage.
A DH spokesman said in view of the heightened vigilance against influenza and the increased demand for vaccination among the public this year, the DH had been actively looking for alternative sources of influenza vaccines.
He said the two lots of vaccines ordered, comprising several thousands doses of Influvac and Fluzone respectively, were registered for use in the United Kingdom and the USA, but not in Hong Kong. The DH has made careful assessment before giving approval for their importation to Hong Kong.
¡§Our prime concerns are that the flu vaccines must comply with the requirements of safety, efficacy and quality, and that they passed the quality control analysis.
¡§In addition, the cold chain of the vaccines concerned has been maintained from the time of their release by the manufacturer to the time of their import into Hong Kong by licensed wholesalers,¡¨ he said.
The spokesman pointed out that these vaccines would only be used by the DH and the Hospital Authority.
¡§Arrangement is being made to release about 15 000 doses of registered flu vaccines scheduled for the DH to the private medical sector,¡¨ the spokesman added.
Ends/Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:30
NNNN
