USFH observes outreach vaccination activity at school (with photos)
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     The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Wong Ka-hing, visited Alliance Primary School, Whampoa today (November 24) to observe the implementation of the outreach vaccination activity organised under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS).

     A total of 360 people - some 230 pupils of the school and their parents - received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) in the school today to prepare for the coming winter influenza season.

     Dr Chui said, "This outreach activity provides SIV to pupils with convenience and I strongly recommend kindergartens and primary schools to participate. Home-school co-operation with the support of the medical sector is the key to raising vaccination coverage.

     "Based on previous epidemiological and clinical experiences, vaccinating school children can reduce influenza-related complications, hospitalisations and deaths, and potentially reduce absenteeism and influenza transmission in the community.

     "As it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination, I call on parents to consider vaccination for their children now to ensure personal protection before the influenza season arrives. To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections in schools, children with fever and respiratory symptoms should refrain from school and seek medical advice.

     "Parents can also bring their kids to private doctors enrolled in the VSS for vaccination if they could not receive vaccination on campus," he added.

     The CHP has already uploaded a list of doctors who have indicated their interest in providing outreach vaccination activities onto CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/list_of_doctors_providing_vaccination_at_non_clinic_settings_en.pdf) for schools' reference.

     Dr Wong said that the CHP had been monitoring the safety and service quality of outreach vaccination activities. Guidelines for enrolled doctors and organisers of outreach activities in non-clinic settings are in place. The CHP's officers conduct regular site inspections to ensure quality assurance.

     To safeguard public health, all children aged 6 months to under 12 years are eligible to receive subsidised flu vaccination under the VSS. The VSS also covers all pregnant women, elderly persons aged 65 or above, community-living persons with intellectual disabilities and persons receiving Disability Allowance. Enrolled private doctors can provide vaccination at a government subsidy of $190 per dose of SIV to eligible groups either in their clinics, or organise outreach activities.

     About 160 000 doses of SIV have been administered via the VSS (subsidised vaccination), of which about 28 000 recipients were eligible children aged from 6 to under 12. About 200 000 doses were administered to eligible groups under the Government Vaccination Programme (free vaccination).

Ends/Friday, November 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:40

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