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The Government Influenza Vaccination Programme (GIVP) for 2007-08, which provides free vaccines to some of the target groups considered high risk, will start on November 5.
Developed on the basis of the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) established under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, it will provide free influenza vaccinations to the following target groups:
* Elderly people living in residential care homes;
* Long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled;
* Elderly people aged 65 years or above with chronic illness attending follow-up appointments in public clinics, or receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA);
* People aged under 65 years with chronic illnesses who are on CSSA, and some in-patients of the Hospital Authority who had chronic illness;
* Health care workers of the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and other government departments, as well as health care workers in elderly homes or institutions for the disabled;
* Poultry workers or staff who may be in contact with poultry in the poultry culling operations;
* Children aged from six to 23 months from families receiving CSSA;
* All pregnant women receiving CSSA.
People with chronic illnesses mainly refers to those who have chronic cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic or renal diseases, people who are immunocompromised (problems with immune system), or children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years) on long-term aspirin therapy.
A CHP spokesman said today (October 16) that the department had ordered 300,000 doses of vaccine for the coming vaccination programme which will last until the end of the year. Mop-up vaccinations are also expected in early 2008.
Other people who are not covered by the programme should consult their family doctors, the spokesman said.
As advised by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, vaccines to be used for this year's programme will follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation for the 2007-08 season (northern hemisphere winter), which will contain:
* A/Solomon Islands/3/2006(H1N1)-like virus;
* A/Wisconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like virus, and
* B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus
The spokesman said the success of promoting influenza vaccination in the community required collaboration between the public and private sectors.
"In this regard, the CHP has been maintaining contact with all doctors since earlier this year about influenza vaccination arrangements for the coming season to allow sufficient time for planning and ordering of vaccines.
"Letters will also be sent to doctors and health care professionals this month to promote influenza vaccination," the spokesman said.
To prevent influenza and other respiratory tract infections, the public are advised to adopt a healthy lifestyle and adhere to the following health advice:
* To build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* To maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing and wear a mask when developing symptoms of respiratory infections;
* To maintain good ventilation;
* To avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation, especially during peak flu season.
The public may call upon the department's health education (pre-recorded) hotline at 2833 0111 for vaccination information. In addition, a telephone hotline 2575 2789 is set up to answer public enquiries on the vaccination programme during office hours.
Information on influenza and influenza vaccine may also be accessed at the CHP's website: http://www.chp.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:58
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