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The last Sunday clinic session of the Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) Catch-Up Programme (CUP) will take place on February 28, 2010, the Department of Health announced today (January 14).
A department spokesman said the Sunday clinics had administered more than 44,000 doses of PCVs since the start of the CUP on September 1, 2009.
Under the CUP, which also provides vaccination during normal service hours of Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs), a total of more than 100,000 doses of PCVs have been given to more than 71,000 children since the programme's launch on September 1, 2009.
"Recent demand for Sunday clinic vaccinations has decreased as many eligible children have already received the vaccination," the spokesman said.
Since the launch of the CUP, the number of appointment tokens has dropped significantly from a total of 21,145 in September 2009 to 2,352 in February 2010.
The spokesman also noted that it was not uncommon for children to receive PCV in the private sector. An immunisation survey conducted by the Department of Health showed that 57% of children born in 2006 had received at least one dose of PCV.
"For better use of public resources, Sunday clinics will have their last vaccination session on February 28, 2010. Parents who have eligible children for catch-up PCV are reminded to make an appointment before the last session if they wish to have the vaccination at Sunday clinics," the spokesman said.
"After February 28, 2010, catch-up vaccinations will continue to be provided during normal service hours at MCHCs until March 31, 2011, for children born between September 1, 2007, and June 30, 2009, inclusive."
Ends/Thursday, January 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:02
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