17 Dec 2009
The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, and the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, today (December 17) took the lead in receiving vaccinations against Human Swine Influenza at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic.
The three were joined by 12 leading representatives of the medical sector whose presence and inoculation demonstrated confidence in the new vaccine and support for the vaccination arrangements.
The representatives were Controller of Centre for Health Protection (CHP)of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Thomas Tsang; Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr PY Leung; President of Hong Kong Medical Association, Dr Tse Hung-hing; President of Hong Kong Doctors Union, Dr Yeung Chiu-fat; President of Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Prof Raymond Liang; Dean of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Prof Lee Sum-ping; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Prof Fok Tai-fai; Professor and Head of HKU's Department of Nursing Studies, Prof Sophia Chan; Professor and Head of School of Nursing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Prof Samantha Pang; President of Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association, Dr Ho Pak Leung; Chairman of Government Doctors' Association, Dr Stanley Tsang; and Mr Leung Yiu of Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff.
The Chair Professor and Director of CUHK’s Nethersole School of Nursing, Prof Diana Lee, was also present to show support.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said that hospitals, clinics and medical centres under the department and the Hospital Authority would provide free vaccination service to people in five target groups on a voluntary basis starting next Monday (December 21).
The five target groups are healthcare workers, people with chronic illnesses and pregnant women, children between the age of six months and less than six years, elderly pepeople aged 65 or above, and pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel.
"Three of these groups - chronic patients and pregnant women, children aged from six months to under six years and the elderly aged 65 or above – may also choose to get vaccinated at private clinics on government subsidy starting on December 28.
"They can opt to receive vaccination from private doctors who have joined the Human Swine Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. The Government will provide a subsidy of $129 per dose, including $79 to cover the vaccine cost and $50 for injection fee," he said
Information including the addresses of the private clinics the doctors of which have joined the subsidy scheme and any additional fees charged will be uploaded to the CHP website www.chp.gov.hk for public reference. Participating doctors are also required to display posters in waiting rooms stating the injection fee exclusive of vaccine cost.
Regarding DH's Student Health Service Centres which accepted pre-appointment booking for children aged from six months to under six years to receive vaccinations, the spokesman said where a centre was not fully booked, "walk-in" vaccinations would also be entertained.
As to the remaining two target groups, healthcare workers can receive vaccination from their serving medical institutions or the Hospital Authority's designated clinics while workers in the pig farming and slaughtering industry can get free vaccinations from the authority's designated clinics. They will receive government invitations to receive vaccinations.
The first batch of 500,000 doses have arrived while another 2.5 million doses will arrive next month (January).
"People who are not among the target groups can choose to receive vaccinations from private doctors enrolled in the subsidy scheme at their own cost after the second batch of vaccines have arrived," the spokesman said.
More information about the vaccine programme can be found on the CHP website or from the enquiry line 2125 2125.