1 Sep 2009
All Hong Kong infants who were born on or after September 1 2007 would be eligible to receive free vaccination of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) starting today (September 1), a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said.
"All babies born on or after July 1 this year will receive the first dose of PCV at Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) when they reach two months old.
"Children born between September 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 who have a scheduled vaccination appointment at MCHC between this September and November will get the catch-up vaccination on the same date," the spokesman said.
For children not having a scheduled vaccination appointment at MCHC during the period, their parents or representatives should go to MCHC during their opening hours to obtain an appointment, he said.
"They are reminded to bring the children's Hong Kong Birth Certificates or other valid identity documents showing their resident status as well as all immunisation records to obtain an appointment.
"It is not necessary to bring the children along to MCHC to get an appointment," the spokesman said.
"A total of 29 MCHCs will be opened on Sundays starting September 6. They will be manned by Auxiliary Medical Service nurse supervisors and trained inoculators," the spokesman said.
The public can call 2125 2125 to obtain details of the vaccination programme. The telephone line operates between 9am and 5:30pm from Monday to Friday, and on those Sundays when the MCHCs are open.
Latest information on Childhood Immunisation Programme can be obtained from the Department's Family Health Service website (
http://www.fhs.gov.hk
) and the CHP website (
http://www.chp.gov.hk
).