(To watch the video with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said the School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme will be regularised in 2019-20 to cover more primary schools.

The Department of Health will also extend the coverage to kindergartens and childcare centres as a pilot programme.

So far, more than 430 primary schools and 700 kindergartens and childcare centres have signed up for the two programmes that will start in October.

All schoolchildren in participating schools will be able to receive free vaccination from a government outreach team or a partnership team, irrespective of their Hong Kong resident status.

Additionally, the Department of Health will conduct a trial to provide live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), or nasal vaccine, in schools with outreach services provided by the department.

Centre for Health Protection Programme Management & Professional Development Branch Head Dr Ada Lin said the trial will test the feasibility and logistical arrangements in applying the LAIV in vaccination programmes.

“The amount of 2,000 doses takes into account the number of schools that the department will provide outreach vaccinations to this year, the age distribution of the students of the schools that are suitable for the LAIV, because the live vaccine cannot be used for students aged under two, as well as the preference of the schools, whether they wish to participate in this trial and the manpower arrangement.” 

The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and Government Vaccination Programme for 2019-20 will launch on October 9 and 23, to provide subsidised or free seasonal influenza vaccinations.