Hong Kong health officials urge doctors to proactively offer Covid jab advice
Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection urges medical staff to proactively remind patients about Covid-19 vaccinations, citing a survey that found nearly 40 per cent of doctors do not do so. The centre also clarifies the temporary pause in adult vaccine supply and confirms new shipments are expecte
Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection has expressed concern over a medical organisation survey indicating that nearly 40 per cent of doctors do not proactively remind patients to receive a Covid-19 vaccine. The centre has urged healthcare workers to actively inform patients about the importance of timely vaccination and, even if their clinics do not offer the service, to provide details about the government's Covid-19 vaccination programme to help protect public health.
The centre issued the statement in response to queries from a medical organisation, which had reported that some doctors lack Covid-19 vaccine stock and are worried about low vaccination rates, as well as to related media inquiries.
Earlier, the centre announced that the LP.8.1 vaccine for children and adults had expiry dates of mid-July and early September respectively, and that production and delivery of vaccines with new ingredients take time. Since 29 October, the centre has been providing the Spikevax XFG messenger RNA vaccine for children aged six months to 11 years.
For individuals aged 12 and above, the first batch of new Spikevax XFG Covid-19 vaccines is expected to arrive in Hong Kong next month, restoring market supply and allowing private doctors to place orders with pharmaceutical companies as usual. During the transitional period while waiting for production and delivery, the absence of adult Covid-19 vaccination is described as normal and temporary.
The centre added that eligible people can receive both influenza and Covid-19 vaccines at all current vaccination points, including relevant public hospital specialist outpatient clinics, family medicine clinics and private clinics, and it sees no immediate need to expand vaccination locations further.