Press Release

DH investigating expired seasonal influenza vaccines administered by a private doctor

28 January 2013

The Department of Health (DH) today (January 28) alerted parents of children aged six months to six years old who had received seasonal influenza vaccination from a private doctor, Dr Chung Fan Sheng, who enrolled in Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, to contact the Department as soon as possible for further investigation and follow-up as the doctor concerned was found to have administered expired seasonal influenza vaccines to three children in his clinic at unit 12B, G/F, Tsui Ying House, Tsui Ping Estate, Kwun Tong.

On January 25, DH received a complaint from a parent that Dr Chung had administered expired seasonal influenza vaccines to his children. DH commenced investigation immediately.

According to the investigations, the doctor claimed that he had administered the expired influenza vaccine Vaxigrip 0.25ml for pediatric use with expiry April 2012 to a two-year-old boy on January 22 and two other boys aged two and three on January 24 by mistake.

DH immediately contacted the parents of the three affected children. While the children are currently in stable condition, they have been arranged to receive re-vaccination arranged by the DH.

DH has set up a hotline (2125 2125) to answer public enquiries. Parents of children aged between six months and six years old who had received influenza vaccine from the doctor concerned between May 1, 2012 and January 25, 2013 are advised to call the hotline for further investigation and follow-up. The hotline will operate until 9pm tonight and from 9am to 9pm on January 29 and 30; and resume to office hours from 9am to 5 pm from January 31 onwards.

A DH spokesman said, “According to information from overseas health authorities, if an expired vaccine was administered, the client should be re-vaccinated appropriately as soon as possible.”

The spokesman added that during inspection, no expired vaccine was found by DH in the concerned clinic. The private doctor has been delisted from the DH’s Vaccination Subsidy Schemes and demand for recovery of overpayment or no payment will be arranged for improper claims.

"The case will also be referred to the Hong Kong Medical Council for follow-up," he concluded.