The Department of Health today reminded parents to maintain up-to-date immunisation for their children for comprehensive and timely protection against infectious diseases and not to delay vaccination due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The department's Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases recommends that children from birth to Primary 6 should receive different types of vaccines and boosters according to the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme for the prevention of chickenpox, diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal infection, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis and cervical cancer.

Maternal and child health centres provide immunisation for children up to the age of five according to the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme.

The department strongly urges parents not to postpone their children's vaccination as delays will weaken their protection against relevant infectious diseases.

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, infection control measures have been enhanced at maternal and child health centres including temperature screening, requiring visitors to wear masks and advising clients to reduce the number of accompanying family members or friends when attending appointments.

Parents of preschool children who have not yet received the age-appropriate vaccines are urged to make an appointment at their registered maternal and child health centres as soon as possible or consult their family doctors for vaccination.

Vaccination under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme at primary schools will be arranged by the School Immunisation Teams at schools.

Parents with children who are currently not residing in Hong Kong are advised to continue immunisation in their place of residence.