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The Government Influenza Vaccination Programme this year will be extended to cover all pregnant women receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), including those who are in their first trimester.
Speaking at a press conference today (May 26), Consultant (Community Medicine) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health Dr Thomas Tsang said the inactivated influenza vaccine was considered safe for use in pregnancy by the World Health Organisation and there was no evidence indicating that the vaccine would induce developmental abnormalities in a fetus even if given during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The vaccination programme for 2006/07 is developed on the basis of the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) established under the CHP. It covers the following groups:
* Elderly persons living in residential care homes;
* Long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled;
* Elderly persons aged 65 years or above with chronic illness and followed up in public clinics, as well as those aged 65 years or above receiving CSSA;
* Persons under 65 years with chronic illness who are on CSSA, and HA in-patients who had chronic illness;
* Health care workers of the department, the Hospital Authority and other government departments, as well as health care workers in elderly homes or institutions for the disabled;
* Poultry workers or staff who may be involved in the poultry culling operations;
* Children aged from six to 23 months from families receiving CSSA
* All pregnant women receiving CSSA.
People with chronic illness mainly refer to those who have chronic cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic or renal diseases, and persons who are immunocompromised.
The programme will start in early November and last until the end of the year. Some mop-up vaccinations are also expected in early 2007.
"This year, we raise our planned target number of influenza vaccines given under the programme, from 200,000 - 250,000 for the previous flu season to 250,000 - 300,000 for the next flu season," Dr Tsang said.
Recommended vaccines to be used in the 2006/07 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain:
A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
A/Wisconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like virus
B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus
Dr Tsang said the private sector had a major and active role to play in providing influenza vaccinations to members of the community, since the majority of out-patient doctor consultations occurred in the private sector.
"The success of influenza vaccination in the community requires collaboration between the public and private sectors. In this regard the CHP has already briefed local medical organisations about the programme this year in order to enable the private medical sector has sufficient time to plan for arrangements."
As for target groups not covered by the programme, Dr Tsang urged them to consult their private doctors early so that private doctors could place vaccine orders in a timely manner.
"People who want to receive influenza vaccination for personal protection should consult private doctors early for advice," Dr Tsang said.
To prevent influenza and other respiratory tract infections, people are advised to adopt a healthy lifestyle and adhere to good personal and environmental hygiene:
* To build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* To maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
* To maintain good ventilation;
* To avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;
* To wear a mask if having symptoms of respiratory infections.
The Scientific Committee's recommendations can be accessed at CHP's website: http://www.chp.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, May 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:58
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