Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ15: Influenza Vaccination Programme
Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(April 30):
Question:
Regarding the Childhood Immunisation Programme ("CIP"), will the Government
inform this Council:
(a) given that the authorities said earlier that it would study the possibility
of inoculating all children under 12 with influenza vaccines, of the latest
progress of the study, and whether the authorities will implement the
recommendations of the study before the next influenza peak season arrives; and
(b) given that it has been reported that a university's study, which was
commissioned by the authorities, on the cost-effectiveness of incorporating new
or combination vaccines (including pneumococcal vaccines) into CIP had been
completed, of the outcome of the study, and whether the authorities will
consider making reference to the outcome of the study and update CIP in the near
future?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Government's annual Influenza Vaccination Programme is developed in
accordance with recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine
Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) established under the Centre for Health Protection.
Each year, the SCVPD will recommend influenza vaccination for certain high risk
groups, taking account of the latest scientific studies worldwide,
recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the local situation.
The SCVPD will make recommendations on influenza vaccination for the flu seasons
in 2008-09 shortly. The Government will define the target groups to be covered
under the Influenza Vaccination Programme for the coming year by this summer,
having regard to the SCVPD's recommendations.
(b) The Department of Health (DH) has commissioned a local university to conduct
a study on the cost-effectiveness of incorporating various new or combination
vaccines (including the 7-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate
vaccine (PCV-7), hepatitis A vaccine, chickenpox vaccine and Haemophilus
influenzae type B vaccine) into the Childhood Immunisation Programme (CIP). The
study is near completion and the report will be submitted soon. The SCVPD will
then study the findings and make recommendations to the DH. In considering
whether to include a new vaccine in the CIP, the DH needs to take into account a
number of factors including epidemiology, disease burden, the safety, efficacy,
side effects, cost-effectiveness and supply of the vaccine, the acceptance of
injection of the vaccine among the public, the availability of other preventive
measures, the administrative arrangements for vaccination, etc.
Ends/Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:45
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