The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) 2023-24 will start on September 28, while three other vaccination programmes will begin on October 5, the Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection announced today.

The other programmes are the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP), the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach (Free of Charge) Programme and the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme.

The centre explained that, under its school outreach programme, pupils in participating schools can receive free seasonal influenza vaccinations from outreach teams. So far, around 710 kindergartens, childcare centres, and centres offering both kindergarten and childcare services, as well around 450 primary schools and around 230 secondary schools, have signed up for the programme. In addition to providing the vaccines, the department will also provide a subsidy of $105 per dose to participating doctors.

Under the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme, the department will provide and deliver vaccines for free to care homes, which can invite visiting medical officers enrolled in the programme to provide vaccinations to eligible recipients. The subsidy will be $105 per dose.

The centre added that the eligibility rules for free or subsidised seasonal influenza jabs under the GVP and VSS schemes, respectively, will remain the same as those in force during the last flu season.

Participating doctors have been informed of the new season’s VSS arrangements and have been reminded to place vaccine orders in a timely manner. The subsidy will be $260 per dose.

The centre stressed that as vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, all persons aged 6 months or above, except for those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive a vaccination.