USFH observes enhanced outreach vaccination activity at school (with photos)

     The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, said today (November 20) that the Enhanced Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) Outreach Vaccination and the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme launched by the Government this year are currently expected to provide vaccination service to a total of 352 primary schools and 128 kindergartens/child care centres, a sharp increase in the number of participating schools from last year.
 
     Dr Chui and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Wong Ka-hing, visited St Eugene de Mazenod Oblate Primary School in To Kwa Wan this afternoon to observe 382 pupils of the school receiving seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) provided by the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
 
     Dr Chui said, "HKU's School of Public Health joined the Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination this year to provide outreach vaccination service to schools. We are grateful to the School and other organisations for joining hands with the Government to promote SIV and to enhance the vaccination coverage among pupils.
 
     "The Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination provides SIV to pupils with convenience and further simplifies the administrative process of schools. Schools can invite participating doctors from a list published by the CHP to arrange outreach SIV service at their campus without the need to go through a tendering process. No extra service fees will be charged by the doctors to schools or pupils.
 
     "Participation of schools with the support of parents and the medical sector is the key to raising vaccination coverage.
 
     "Members of the public should get prepared for the winter influenza peak season. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. Based on previous epidemiological and clinical experiences, vaccinating schoolchildren can reduce influenza-related complications, hospitalisations and deaths, and potentially reduce absenteeism and influenza transmission in the community."
 
     The Government will provide a subsidy of $250 per dose and an additional subsidy of $800 for clinical waste disposal per outreach vaccination activity to doctors participating in the Enhanced VSS Outreach Vaccination.
 
     Dr Wong said, "The CHP had been monitoring the safety and service quality of outreach vaccination activities. Guidelines for enrolled doctors and organisers of outreach activities in non-clinic settings are in place. The CHP's officers conduct regular site inspections to ensure quality assurance."
 
     Parents can also bring their kids to private doctors enrolled in the VSS for vaccination if they could not receive vaccination on campus. Moreover, the eligible groups of the VSS this year have been extended to Hong Kong residents aged 50 or above. Enrolled private doctors can provide vaccination at a government subsidy of $210 per dose of SIV to eligible groups either in their clinics, or organise outreach activities.
 
     As it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination, the Government call on parents to arrange vaccination for their children to ensure personal protection before the influenza season arrives. To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections in schools, children with fever and respiratory symptoms should refrain from going to school and seek medical advice.