Hospital Authority to participate in Government's PCV13 vaccination programme
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The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) said that public hospitals will participate in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) programme announced by the Centre for Health Protection today (July 31) to strengthen the immunity of the elderly against pneumococcal infection.
"The HA will continue take part in the Government Vaccination Programme to provide seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination to eligible persons in public hospitals and outpatient clinics," the spokesperson said.
"The HA will provide pneumococcal vaccination to eligible elderly persons in two phases this year (2017-18). Eligible elderly people include Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above who are existing clients attending public clinics or inpatients under the HA with high-risk conditions or receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance or holding the Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges."
The spokesperson explained that the first phase will commence together with seasonal influenza vaccination in October. The HA will provide one dose of PCV13 to eligible elderly persons who have not received pneumococcal vaccination previously.
"The second phase will begin in late March 2018 in which public hospitals and outpatient clinics will provide a mop-up pneumococcal vaccination dose to eligible elderly people who had received pneumococcal vaccination previously," the spokesperson added. Further details on the vaccination programme will be announced at an appropriate stage later.
Ends/Monday, July 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:05
Issued at HKT 18:05
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