Vaccination Programmes 2013/14 to start soon
********************************************

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced today (September 25) that the Vaccination Programmes 2013/14, including the Vaccination Subsidy Schemes (VSS) and the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP), will commence on October 2 and November 1 respectively to provide subsidised or free vaccination to the eligible groups.

     This season, the target groups as recommended by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) of the CHP remain unchanged whereas there is change in the composition of the recommended vaccines to be used in the 2013/14 season (for northern hemisphere). In addition to the trivalent influenza vaccines, the SCVPD recommended that the use of quadrivalent (tetravalent) influenza vaccines should be considered if available.

     Under the VSS, young children and elderly persons, who are eligible, will be subsidised for seasonal influenza vaccination under the Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (CIVSS) and the Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (EVSS) respectively.

     Children aged between 6 months and less than 6 years (or children aged 6 years or over attending pre-primary institutions), under the CIVSS, are entitled to a subsidy of $130 for each dose of seasonal influenza vaccine received from enrolled private doctors. A maximum of two doses of seasonal influenza vaccination per person will be subsidised for eligible children who have never been vaccinated before.

     Elderly people aged 65 or above, under the EVSS, are entitled to a subsidy of $130 for each dose of seasonal influenza vaccine received from enrolled private doctors. A subsidy of $190 per dose of pneumococcal vaccination will also be provided for eligible elderly persons who have not been vaccinated before.

     "If there is supply of registered tetravalent influenza vaccine in Hong Kong, it will also be included under the VSS. There will be no change in the amount of subsidy and the number of doses for the subsidised seasonal influenza vaccination provided to the eligible groups under the VSS. Enrolled doctors will be informed accordingly," a spokesman for the CHP remarked.

     About 1,600 private doctors have so far participated in the VSS. Enrolled doctors will display the scheme logos near clinic entrances and price posters at clinic waiting halls for recognition. Further information on the participating doctors, including the vaccination service fee (after deducting the amount of government subsidy), have been uploaded to the CHP's website (https://apps.hcv.gov.hk/SDIR/en/index.aspx).

     Apart from the VSS, the GVP 2013/14 will commence on November 1, providing free seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination to eligible groups at public clinics and hospitals, as well as homes for the elderly and the disabled.

     The GVP has all along included the target groups as recommended by the SCVPD. Except for four categories, the GVP has already covered the eligible persons under the rest of the target groups. In the past flu seasons, the GVP has covered four specific categories of persons who are recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, including:

* Pregnant women;
* Persons aged 50 years or above;
* Persons having chronic medical problems attending public clinics; and
* Children aged from 6 months to less than 6 years.

     In order to extend the protection to those who are underprivileged, apart from CSSA recipients, the GVP will be expanded in this season to provide free vaccination to these four groups of persons who are holding valid Certificates for Waiver of Medical Charges from the Social Welfare Department. Please refer to the Attachment for details.

     The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 2125) for public enquiries relating to the Vaccination Programmes during office hours. Members of the public may also visit the CHP's website for more information.

     "Influenza vaccines are safe and effective, and it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body. Except for those with medical contraindications, influenza vaccination is suitable for all members of the public as influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons," the spokesman stressed.

Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:00

NNNN