Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ2: Influenza vaccination programme further expanded

     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 9):

 

Question:

 

     It has been reported that the Government procured last year 200,000 influenza vaccines for use by the Hospital Authority(HA) and the government departments concerned.  While the validity of the vaccines will expire by the end of this month, there is still plenty of stock left.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

 

(a)  of the total value and average unit cost of the vaccines;

 

(b)  which official or committee made the decision on the quantity of the vaccines to be procured, the criteria on which the decision was based and the number of vaccines still in stock at present; and

 

(c)  whether it has taken measures to use the vaccines before the expiry date as far as possible so as to avoid wastage; if it has, of the measures taken and whether they include the offer of free vaccination to the elderly who are not living in residential care homes or suffering from the specified chronic illnesses?

 

Reply:

 

Madam President,

 

(a) & (b)  The influenza vaccination programme has been conducted by the Department of Health (DH) annually since 1998.  Every year, the Advisory Committee on Immunisation (ACI), comprising infectious disease experts in paediatrics, medicines, immunology and public health from the public, private and academic sectors, makes an assessment on local epidemiology based on available evidence, identifies the target groups to be vaccinated and makes recommendations to the Director of Health.  From 1998 till 2003, in accordance with ACI's recommendations, the vaccination programme was targeted at residents in the residential care homes for the elderly (RCHE).

 

     Due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian influenza in neighbouring places during the past winter season, and with the spread of avian influenza being described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as unprecedented, the ACI has made recommendations to expand the vaccination programme with reference to the relevant WHO guidelines.  In line with the ACI's recommendations, the vaccination programme was expanded in 2003/04 to also cover healthcare workers, residents in residential care homes for persons with disabilities, elderly people who are on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or medical waivers and assessed to be at higher risk of developing complications from influenza due to certain chronic diseases, poultry workers and staff of essential services and emergency operations in the civil service.

 

     Taking into account the size of the different target groups as estimated by DH and HA in consultation with relevant departments, a total of 197,000 doses of influenza vaccines were purchased.  In determining the order size, the tight global supply of vaccines at the time, the perception of risk with the looming of SARS and avian influenza in the region, and the need to be prepared for a possible outbreak in Hong Kong have also been taken into account.  The inclusion of a few new target groups in the 2003/04 immunisation programme and their unknown take-up rate, coupled with the fact that private doctors also offered influenza vaccination extensively, added to the difficulty in making the estimation.

 

     The remaining stock of vaccines which are now centrally kept by DH and HA respectively totals about 42,000 doses.  The average cost per dose of vaccine was about $25.  The total expenditure on the purchase of vaccines for the immunisation programme 2003/04 was about $4.9 million.

 

(c)  In order to minimise the risk of influenza infection among the elderly in the community, and as an attempt to raise their awareness of protection against influenza, we have further expanded the vaccination programme to cover people aged 65 or above who are on CSSA or granted with medical waivers by HA or the Social Welfare Department(SWD), and have not been vaccinated in the past flu season.  Starting from June 4, eligible elderly people can bring along their Identity Card and relevant certificate and go to any general outpatient clinics under the HA for free influenza vaccination.  With assistance from the SWD, the initiative is being promulgated widely through District Elderly Community Centres, Neighbourhood Elderly Centres, Support Teams for the Elderly and Integrated Home Care Services Teams, etc.

 

     For the elderly people who have received free vaccination under the immunisation programme 2003/04, like those staying in RCHE, they are provided with an option to receive another vaccination if the period of the vaccine protection has lapsed.

 

Ends/Wednesday, June 9, 2004

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