12 Oct 2009
Children aged from six months to less than six years of age and elderly aged 65 or above are encouraged to receive seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations under the Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (CIVSS) and Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (EVSS) starting next Monday (October 19).
Speaking at a press conference today (October 12), the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Thomas Tsang, said the vaccination schemes were introduced after taking into consideration the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the CHP.
"The schemes are expected to reduce hospitalisation rate, related complications and mortality as a result of the infections," Dr Tsang said.
"Over 1 000 private doctors have submitted their applications to enroll in the schemes, which reimburse doctors using an electronic platform, the eHealth System. More are expected in the coming weeks.
Children between the age of six months and less than six years with Hong Kong resident status are entitled to a government subsidy of $80 per dose of influenza vaccine administered by private doctors.
Parents may bring their eligible children to doctors who have enrolled in the CIVSS for subsidised vaccination starting from October 19, 2009 until March 31 next year.
Enrolled doctors will be reimbursed $80 by the Government for the cost of the vaccine. Parents may need to pay the balance fee on top of the $80 subsidy.
Children aged six or above who are Hong Kong residents and attending kindergartens or child care centres can also receive the subsidy. They are required to show relevant documents, such as student handbooks, to prove their attendance at pre-primary institutions.
Parents or representatives who take the children to participating doctors for vaccination are reminded to bring along the children's identity documents (such as Hong Kong Identity Card or Birth Certificate) for verification of resident status.
A "Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy Form" completed by parents has to be provided to participating doctors before the vaccination. The forms are available at participating doctors' clinics and can be downloaded from the CHP website (
http://www.chp.gov.hk
).
In all, arrangements for the CIVSS remain largely the same as last year’s.
For eligible elderly persons, they will get a government subsidy of $130 and $190 respectively for receiving influenza and pneumococcal vaccines from enrolled private doctors under the EVSS. Government subsidy for influenza vaccination will be provided between October 19, 2009 and March 31, 2010, while that for pneumococcal vaccination will be provided starting from October 19, 2009.
Eligible elderly persons may receive subsidised vaccination by bringing their vaccination records and identity document to a participating doctor and signing the "Consent to Use Vaccination Subsidy Form".
The CHP website regularly updates information of doctors who have joined the subsidy schemes, including their name, clinic address and telephone number, and fees charged for different types of vaccinations.
Participating doctors will display the CIVSS and/or EVSS logos and fee charging information at their clinics for easy recognition.
Meanwhile, the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) 2009/10 will also be launched on October 19.
Under this programme, DH and Hospital Authority will provide free influenza vaccination to specified target groups.
* Elderly people living in residential care homes;
* Long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled;
* Elderly people aged 65 years or above with chronic illness and are being followed up in public clinics, as well as those aged 65 years or above receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA);
* People under 65 years with chronic illness receiving CSSA, and some long-stay Hospital Authority (HA) in-patients who have chronic illness;
* Healthcare workers of the Department of Health, Hospital Authority and other government departments, as well as healthcare workers in elderly homes or institutions for the disabled;
* Poultry workers or staff who may be involved in poultry culling operations;
* Children between the age of six months and less than six years from families receiving CSSA; and
* Pregnant women receiving CSSA.
Free pneumococcal vaccine will be given to those elderly persons aged 65 or above if they are covered under GVP 2009/10, Dr Tsang said.
To answer public enquiries, the CHP has set up a hotline 2125 2125 for CIVSS and EVSS. During the first week of program launch (October 19 – 25), the hotline will operate from 8 am to 10 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 5.30 pm on the first Saturday and Sunday. During subsequent weeks, the hotline will operate from 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays.
Members of the public may obtain information on CIVSS, EVSS and GVP from CHP website.