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The Government Influenza Vaccination Programme (GIVP) for 2007-08, which began in early November, will be extended to allow more time for people eligible under the programme to receive influenza vaccination.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said today (December 21) that the programme, which provided free influenza vaccination to eight eligible target groups who were needy and high risk, had been running smoothly.
"The department has ordered 300,000 doses of influenza vaccines for this year's GIVP, of which, about 224,000 had been administered to the eligible target groups since the programme began on November 5.
"The programme will continue while the vaccine stock lasts, before the arrival of the flu season," he said.
The spokesman called on eligible high risk clients who had not received this year's vaccination to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
"Timely vaccination for the high risk groups can protect them from influenza-related complications," he said.
The programme was developed in accordance with the recommendations made by Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the department. It covers the following target groups:
* Elderly persons living in residential care homes;
* Long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled;
* Elderly persons aged 65 years or above with chronic illness attending follow up appointments in public clinics, or receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA);
* Persons aged under 65 years with chronic illness who are on CSSA, and some in-patients of the Hospital Authority (HA) who had chronic illness;
* Health care workers of Department of Health, 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; and
* All pregnant women receiving CSSA.
The spokesman said those who were not covered by GIVP should consult their family doctors.
"The surveillance systems of CHP most recently showed a mild increase in activity in influenza-like-illness (ILI) surveillance at general out-patient clinics (GOPC). During the week ending December 15, consultation rates for ILI in GOPC was 4.7 per 1 000 consultations as compared with 4.4 and 4 of the previous two weeks respectively.
"The numbers of weekly influenza virus detections by CHP's laboratory surveillance remain low, 16 in the last week. CHP also recorded four influenza type B outbreaks in child care centres and schools affecting 25 people in the past two weeks," he 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; and
* To avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation, especially during peak flu season
Members of the public, particularly children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks and consult their doctors for medical advice promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection.
CHP has set up a hotline 2575 2789 to answer public enquiries on GIVP during office hours. Information on vaccination can also be obtained at CHP's website: www.chp.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, December 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:06
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