The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (June 28) announced the pertussis vaccination arrangement commencing July 2 for pregnant women who have booked to deliver at public hospitals will dovetail with the Pertussis Vaccination Programme of the Department of Health.
"The said Pertussis Vaccination Programme mainly covers pregnant women from 26 to 34 weeks of gestation. Through vaccination, the pregnant women will develop and pass the antibodies to the foetus before delivery and hence provide direct protection for infants against pertussis," the HA spokesperson said.
"Before August 31, pregnant women with more than 35 weeks of gestation or those who have just given birth can also opt to receive the vaccination respectively at Specialist Out-patient Clinic (SOPC) or post-natal ward. This will provide mothers with effective protection against pertussis, reducing the risk of pertussis infection of the infant by means of direct contact or airborne transmission."
The spokesperson stressed that pertussis vaccination is safe for pregnant women and infants. It is usually well tolerated apart from occasional soreness at the injection site.
Members of the public can enquire about the details of the public hospital Pertussis Vaccination Programme at the respective Obstetrics SOPC or by visiting the following website: www.ha.org.hk/goto/Pertussis_Vaccination_Programme/en.
The HA will inform pregnant women of the vaccination arrangement and promote related information through different channels, including a display of notices at public hospitals (see Annex).
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