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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In accordance with the Government Vaccination Programme 2013/14, the Hospital Authority (HA) outpatient clinics will start providing seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination to eligible persons commencing November 1 (Friday).
The HA spokesman today (October 30) said that eligible persons for seasonal influenza vaccination include the following categories of people who attend public outpatient clinics:
1. Paediatric outpatients with chronic medical problems or on long-term aspirin therapy
2. Elderly persons aged 65 or above with chronic medical problems including those who have chronic cardiovascular (except hypertension without complications), pulmonary, obesity (BMI 30 or above), metabolic or renal diseases
3. Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or Hong Kong residents who hold a valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges under the following categories:
i) Persons with chronic medical problems of all ages
ii) Persons aged 50 or above
iii) All pregnant women with antenatal appointments in public clinics
Poultry workers, pig farmers and people who are involved in poultry culling operations or the pig-slaughtering industry, as referred by relevant departments, can also receive seasonal influenza vaccination in 22 designated outpatient clinics from November 15.
On the other hand, pneumococcal vaccination will continue to be provided for the elderly this year, including the following categories of eligible persons who attend public outpatient clinics:
1. Elderly persons aged 65 or above with chronic medical problems and follow-up in public clinics
2. Elderly persons aged 65 or above without known chronic medical problems but on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or Hong Kong residents who hold valid a Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges
To assist patients in receiving vaccination at the clinics, the spokesman advised patients to attend the clinics and receive vaccination at the time of their pre-scheduled follow-up appointment within the vaccination period. Patients whose follow-up appointment date falls outside the specified vaccination period should enquire at the clinics for necessary arrangements.
"The above-mentioned eligible persons who wish to receive vaccination should attend the general or specialist outpatient clinics while bringing along relevant documents, including a Government Vaccination Record Card, a Hong Kong identity card, an HA outpatient clinic appointment slip, a CSSA certificate, a valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges and vaccination authorisation issued by the Government. They will be vaccinated if assessed as clinically suitable by clinic staff," the spokesman said.
As in previous years, the HA will start its annual seasonal influenza vaccination for long-stay inpatients with chronic diseases in public hospitals from November 1. The programme covers inpatients in infirmary and psychiatric units. Long-stay inpatients aged 65 or above will additionally be offered pneumococcal vaccination. The HA has also started to arrange vaccination for staff from October 18.
The spokesman stressed that both vaccines are safe. "The vaccine compositions of the 2013/14 seasonal influenza vaccine are different from those in 2012/13. Protection from seasonal influenza vaccination develops about two to four weeks after getting a flu shot and may last up to six months at least. It is usually tolerated well apart from occasional soreness at the injection site. In rare instances, the recipient may experience fever, muscle and joint pain, and tiredness after vaccination and lasting up to one to two days. Only a small number of patients who are allergic to influenza vaccine or to egg and a tiny portion who had Guillain-Barre Syndrome previously are not suitable for the vaccination.
"As for the pneumococcal vaccine, protection will be generated in two to three weeks after inoculation. We do not recommend re-vaccination for elderly people who have received pneumococcal vaccination within the past five years.
"People who have flu symptoms or fever, or are severely ill at the time of vaccination, should defer the vaccination and wait until they have recovered. Patients can enquire at the respective specialist or general out-patient clinics they are attending, or make general enquiries at the HA hotline 2300 6555 during office hours," the spokesman remarked.
The HA will promote the vaccination programme through different channels, including the display of notices (appended) at prominent places of public hospitals, specialist out-patient clinics and general out-patient clinics.
Ends/Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:16
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