************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) will support the Government to implement the 2015 Southern Hemisphere Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SH SIV) Programme. Starting from May 20 (Wednesday), the SH SIV will be provided free to community-living elderly persons aged 85 or above in all HA General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs), Specialist Out-patient Clinics (SOPCs) and public hospitals. (Addresses and telephone numbers of 73 GOPCs are accessible at the following link: www21.ha.org.hk/files/gvp/List%20of%20GOPCs%20for%202015%20SHSIVP_Eng.pdf.)
The vaccination programme is being conducted on a voluntary basis. "To enable the eligible elderly people to receive the vaccination and get them prepared for the upcoming summer flu surge, the HA has assigned all GOPCs to start providing SH SIV on May 20. The GOPCs providing vaccination services are located at different districts in the territory, and eligible elderly persons can choose to receive the vaccination in any GOPC at their convenience," the HA Chief Manager (Infection, Emergency and Contingency), Dr Liu Shao-haei, said today (May 7) at a media briefing.
Those eligible elderly people who have follow-up appointments in GOPCs or SOPCs can choose to get the vaccination when they attend their scheduled appointments in the coming few weeks.
Dr Liu said as a reminder to the elderly and their relatives, "There is no requirement for prior booking for the vaccination. Eligible elderly persons only need to bring along valid documents including their Hong Kong identity card, the Vaccination Records and HA Outpatient Clinic appointment slips and approach the staff at the Registration Counter. The staff will then arrange for the vaccination. All outpatient clinics will display posters in prominent places to inform the public of the vaccination arrangements. The service hours for vaccination at GOPCs are from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, and exclude evenings, weekends and public holidays."
For eligible elderly people who are hospitalised in public hospitals, clinicians will consult them and assess their clinical condition before arranging for the vaccination.
Dr Liu stressed that the vaccination is safe. "Trivalent influenza vaccines which contain an A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 (H3N2)-like virus will be introduced in the 2015 SH SIV. Protection from seasonal influenza vaccination develops about two weeks from getting a flu shot and may last for at least six months. It is usually well tolerated apart from occasional soreness at the injection site. In rare instances, the recipient may experience fever, muscle and joint pains and tiredness, which may last for up to one to two days after vaccination. Only a small number of patients who are allergic to components of the influenza vaccine or to egg are not suitable for vaccination.
"Elderly persons who have flu symptoms, have a fever or are severely ill at the time of vaccination should defer the vaccination and wait until they have recovered. Members of the public when necessary can make general enquiries at the HA hotline 2300 6555 during office hours," Dr Liu said.
The HA will promote the vaccination programme through different channels including various media platforms such as radio and television, and inform related elderly organisations. Poster notices (appended) will also be displayed at prominent places at public hospitals, SOPCs and GOPCs. In addition, a designated webpage has been designed to provide the relevant information on the vaccination programme to the general public at www21.ha.org.hk/smartpatient/en/helpful_resources/helpfulResGVProgramme.html.
Ends/Thursday, May 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:33
NNNN
