30 Mar 2010
The Department of Health (DH) announced today (March 30) that in view of the recent increase in seasonal influenza activity, seasonal influenza vaccination under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP), Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (EVSS) and Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (CIVSS) would be extended until April 30, 2010 after which it would be reviewed.
A department spokesman said recent surveillance by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) revealed an increasing number of influenza isolates, which signalled that Hong Kong had entered the traditional peak season for seasonal influenza.
"There has also been a steady rise in the number of influenza viruses detected from respiratory specimens at the Public Health Laboratory Centre recently which was predominated by human swine influenza (HSI) and seasonal influenza B virus. The average consultation rate for influenza-like illness (ILI) among sentinel private doctors and the number of institutional ILI outbreaks have also increased since March," he said.
"To protect the public against seasonal influenza, the Government will extend seasonal influenza vaccination under GVP, EVSS and CIVSS until April 30, 2010, after which it will be subject to review taking into account the prevailing situation.
Separately, the HSI vaccination programme will continue until expiry of the vaccines.
The spokesman noted that the seasonal influenza vaccination programme and subsidy schemes started on October 19, 2009. As at March 28, 2010, a total of 504,506 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered under these schemes.
More detailed information on the vaccination programmes and subsidy schemes is available from the CHP website ( www.chp.gov.hk ). A hotline, 2125 2125, operates during office hours to answer enquiries on the vaccination programmes and subsidy schemes.