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All Hong Kong infants born on or after September 1, 2007, are eligible to receive free vaccination of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) starting today (September 1), a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said.
"All babies born on or after July 1 this year will receive the first dose of PCV at a Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) when they reach two months old.
"Children born between September 1, 2007, and June 30, 2009, who have a scheduled vaccination appointment at an MCHC between this September and November will get the catch-up vaccination on the same date," the spokesman said.
For children not having a scheduled vaccination appointment at an MCHC during the period, their parents or representatives should go to an MCHC during its opening hours to obtain an appointment, he said.
"They are reminded to bring the children's Hong Kong birth certificates or other valid identity documents showing their resident status as well as all immunisation records to obtain an appointment.
"It is not necessary to bring the children along to the MCHC to get an appointment," the spokesman said.
"A total of 29 MCHCs will be opened on Sundays from September 6. They will be manned by Auxiliary Medical Service nurse supervisors and trained inoculators," the spokesman said.
The public can call 2125 2125 to obtain details of the vaccination programme. The telephone line operates between 9am and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, and on Sundays when the MCHCs are open.
Latest information on the Childhood Immunisation Programme can be obtained from the Department's Family Health Service website (www.fhs.gov.hk) and the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:01
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