S for Health receives seasonal influenza vaccination and fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine (with photos)

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     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, received both the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) and the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today (September 22). The Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Edwin Tsui; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang; and frontline healthcare workers also echoed the move and received an SIV and/or COVID-19 vaccination at the same time.

     Professor Lo, upon vaccination of both vaccines at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic, received a briefing by a representative of the HA on the facilitation arrangements made by the clinic for the public to receive COVID-19 vaccine, the provision of medical services through designated clinics and tele-consultation for COVID-19 patients, and the clinic's preparation for providing 2022/23 influenza vaccine concurrently starting from October.

     Professor Lo said, "COVID-19 vaccination is highly effective in reducing the rates of hospitalisation, severe illness and mortality. Besides, the winter influenza season is approaching. Given that the local seasonal influenza activity has been staying at low levels since February 2020, the overall immunity against influenza in the community is at present relatively low. We also noticed that there has been an increase in influenza activity overseas. I therefore strongly urge the public, especially the elderly and children, to complete the recommended dosage of COVID-19 vaccines and the latest seasonal influenza vaccine as early as possible so that they can obtain better protection, thus minimising the risk of serious complications and death in the event of co-infection with COVID-19 and influenza."

     The Scientific Committees under the CHP reached a consensus in August this year that COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same time with other vaccines, including seasonal influenza vaccine. A number of vaccination venues will provide both COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations for eligible groups. These venues include designated facilities of the HA and the DH, as well as the Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs). Among them, the CVCs will allow persons aged 50 or above to get a free SIV vaccination concurrently when they are there for COVID-19 vaccination starting October 6. Details will be announced next week.

     The Government Vaccination Programme and Vaccination Subsidy Scheme 2022/23 will be launched on October 6. For more information, members of the public may call the CHP at 2125 2125 or browse the dedicated webpage on Vaccination Schemes.

Ends/Thursday, September 22, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:23

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The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (third right); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (second left); and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (first right), receive both the seasonal influenza vaccination and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic today (September 22).

The Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan (front row, third left); the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui (front row, second left); and the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang (front row, first right), receive the seasonal influenza vaccination at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic today (September 22). Looking on are the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (back row, centre); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (back row, left); and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (back row, right).

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (back row, third right); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (back row, third left); the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (back row, second right); the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan (back row, second left); the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui (back row, first left); and the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang (back row, first right), look on as frontline healthcare workers receive the seasonal influenza vaccination at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic today (September 22).

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (seventh right); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (eighth right); the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (sixth right); the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan (ninth right); the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui (10th right); and the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang (fifth right), joined by frontline healthcare workers at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic today (September 22) urged members of the public to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine as early as possible.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (back row, third right); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (back row, fourth right); the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (back row, second right); the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan (back row, fifth right); the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui (back row, sixth right); and the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang (back row, first right), joined by frontline healthcare workers at the Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic today (September 22) urged members of the public to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine as early as possible.

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