14 Jan 2010
The last Sunday clinic session of the Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) Catch-Up Program (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.
Presently under the CUP, which also provides vaccination at normal service hours of Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs), a total of over 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 vaccination," the spokesman said.
Since the launch of the CUP, the number of appointment tokens 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 at private sector. An immunisation survey conducted by DH showed that 57 per cent 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 28 February 2010. Parents who have eligible children for catch-up PCV are reminded to make appointment before the last session if they wish to have 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."