22 Apr 2010
The Department of Health (DH) today (April 22) reminded members of the public that seasonal influenza vaccination under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP), Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (EVSS) and Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (CIVSS) would come to an end on April 30, 2010.
A DH spokesman said surveillance by the Centre for Health Protection revealed a decreasing trend in seasonal influenza activity, which signalled that the traditional peak season for seasonal influenza had passed.
"After reviewing the prevailing situation, the Government decided to terminate seasonal influenza vaccination under the GVP, EVSS and CIVSS on April 30," he said.
The seasonal influenza vaccination programme and subsidy schemes started on October 19, 2009. As at April 18, 2010, a total of 505,706 doses of seasonal influenza vaccines had been administered under these schemes.
Meanwhile, the human swine influenza vaccination programme and subsidy scheme will continue until expiry of the vaccines.
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.