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Link DetailsFree flu jab starts Oct 22 The Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) 2020-21 will be launched on October 22. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said that a steady supply of seasonal influenza vaccines will be ensured.
It appealed to eligible people to receive the free seasonal influenza vaccination in the public health system to better protect themselves in the coming winter influenza season.
The outreach vaccination service for primary schools will start on the same day to provide free vaccinations for children in participating schools. The outreach service for kindergartens, kindergarten/child care centres and child care centres started on October 8.
The Department of Health said it has procured a total of 878,000 doses of inactivated influenza vaccine for the 2020-21 vaccination programmes, of which 628,000 doses are for the GVP and 250,000 are for the primary school outreach service.
It noted that there is a tight supply of influenza vaccines around the world. While vaccine suppliers have undertaken to ensure a steady supply for the Government, the department will closely monitor the vaccination statistics and stocks to assess the situation and maintain close liaison with suppliers.
The CHP pointed out that the winter influenza season usually starts in January. As it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies, people are advised to receive the vaccination early for protection against seasonal influenza.
Hospital Authority (HA) public hospitals and out-patient clinics will also start providing seasonal influenza vaccinations in phases to eligible people on October 22 to tie in with the vaccination programme.
In the first phase, the authority will provide influenza vaccinations to eligible public hospital and out-patient clinic patients, while the second phase will start on November 2 to cover seniors in the community aged 65 or above.
Poultry workers, pig farmers and those involved in poultry culling operations or the pig-slaughtering industry, as referred by relevant government departments, can also receive the seasonal influenza vaccination in 22 designated general out-patient clinics from November 9.
Meanwhile, free or subsidised pneumococcal vaccinations for eligible people will continue to be provided under the GVP and the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) to prevent pneumococcal infections.
Those aged 65 or above who do not have high-risk conditions will be eligible for one dose of 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination (23vPPV).
Elderly people with high-risk conditions who have not received the pneumococcal vaccination before will be eligible for one dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and one dose of 23vPPV one year later.
Under the VSS, the subsidy will be $300 per dose of 23vPPV and $760 per dose of PCV13.
Call the CHP on 2125 2125, the HA on 2300 6555 or visit the Vaccination Schemes webpage for details. |
