Simon H WANG
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2119177/hong-kongs-seasonal-flu-vaccine-programmes-need-better-marketing
From: Simon H Wang <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
Date: Thu, Nov 2, 2017 at 9:44 PM
Subject: Fwd: Fine-tune the Seasonal Vaccination Programmes to better protect the city
To: Letters to the Editor <let...@scmp.com>
In 2016/17 flu season, over 700,000 individuals in Hong Kong have received free or subsidised vaccination for seasonal influenza. The numbers of vaccines administered under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) and Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) have increased by 4.7% and 46.4% compared to 2015/16. Nevertheless, the number of seasonal influenza viruses (SIV) infections by Oct 21 this year has reached 26,605, already exceeding the total number of 21,218 cases in 2016. To better protect the city against seasonal influenza, the government should promote the vaccination programmes more aggressively and further reduce the cost of vaccination through centralised ordering of vaccines.
In response to my inquiry, the Department of Health states that there are 1.5 million Hong Kong residents eligible for free vaccination under the GVP and 1.9 million individuals entitled to subsidised vaccination under the VSS. Since there are over one million senior citizens covered by both GVP and VSS, it is estimated that up to 2.4 million individuals are eligible for free or subsidised flu shots. Considering the low participation rate of the GVP and VSS combined (about 29%), the Department of Health should devote more resources to marketing its vaccination programmes in order to protect more eligible residents. Mobile vaccination vehicles should be used to make the vaccines more accessible around the city. Vaccination teams should be sent to kindergartens, primary and secondary schools to inoculate the children.
In 2016/17, the government purchased 430,000 doses of vaccines, of which only 10,000 doses were discarded at the end. Given the government’s impressive accuracy in predicting the number of vaccines required, the Department of Health should also help the private doctors under VSS to purchase the vaccines. According to an influenza vaccine manufacturer in the US, it was always challenging to estimate the demand of the vaccines, forcing the consumers to share the cost of discarded doses. Therefore, the cost of the flu shots could be further reduced if the government centralizes the annual purchase of influenza vaccines in Hong Kong.
In 2000, a universal influenza immunisation program was introduced in Ontario, Canada, to provide free flu shots to everyone older than 6 months. Research suggested that this programme was economically attractive as it halved influenza-related health care costs and brought more years of health to the citizens. To battle influenza in the city, the Hong Kong government should consider experimenting with a similar universal vaccination programme.
From: Simon H Wang <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
Date: Fri, Oct 20, 2017 at 11:59 PM
Subject: Fine-tune the Seasonal Vaccination Programmes to better protect the city
To: Letters to the Editor <let...@scmp.com>
In 2016/17 flu season, over 700,000 individuals in Hong Kong have received free or subsidised vaccination for seasonal influenza. The numbers of vaccines administered under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) and Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) have increased by 4.7% and 46.4% compared to 2015/16. Nevertheless, the number of seasonal influenza viruses (SIV) infections by Oct 7 this year has reached 26,443, already exceeding the total number of 21,218 cases in 2016. To better protect the city against seasonal influenza, the government should promote the vaccination programmes more aggressively and further reduce the cost of vaccination through centralised ordering of vaccines.
In response to my enquiry, the Department of Health states that there are 1.5 million Hong Kong residents eligible for free vaccination under the GVP and 1.9 million individuals entitled to subsidised vaccination under the VSS. Since there are over one million senior citizens covered by both GVP and VSS, it is estimated that up to 2.4 million individuals are eligible for free or subsidised flu shots. Considering the low participation rate of the GVP and VSS combined (about 29%), the Department of Health should devote more resources to marketing its vaccination programmes in order to protect more eligible residents. Mobile vaccination vehicles should be used to make the vaccines more accessible around the city. Vaccination teams should be sent to primary and secondary schools to inoculate the children.
In 2016/17, the government purchased 430,000 doses of vaccines, of which only 10,000 doses were discarded at the end. Given the government’s impressive accuracy in predicting the number of vaccines required, the Department of Health should also help the private doctors under VSS to purchase the vaccines. According to an influenza vaccine manufacturer in the US, it was always challenging to estimate the demand of the vaccines, forcing the consumers to share the cost of discarded doses. Therefore, the cost of the flu shots could be further reduced if the government centralizes the annual purchase of influenza vaccines in Hong Kong.
In 2000, a universal influenza immunisation program was introduced in Ontario, Canada, to provide free flu shots to everyone older than 6 months. Research suggested that this programme was economically attractive as it halved influenza-related health care costs and brought more years of health to the citizens. To battle influenza in the city, the Hong Kong government should consider experimenting with a similar universal vaccination programme.
Disclaimer
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential information intended for a specific individual and/or purpose. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message and notify the sender and the University immediately. Any disclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is prohibited as it may be unlawful.
In addition, the University specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through University E-mail Facilities. Any views and opinions expressed in the email(s) are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the University. The University accepts no liability whatsoever for any losses or damages that may be incurred or caused to any party as a result of the use of such information.
Simon H WANG
From: Simon H Wang <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
Date: Thu, Nov 2, 2017 at 9:44 PM
Subject: Fwd: Fine-tune the Seasonal Vaccination Programmes to better protect the city
To: Letters to the Editor <let...@scmp.com>
In 2016/17 flu season, over 700,000 individuals in Hong Kong have received free or subsidised vaccination for seasonal influenza. The numbers of vaccines administered under the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) and Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) have increased by 4.7% and 46.4% compared to 2015/16. Nevertheless, the number of seasonal influenza viruses (SIV) infections by Oct 21 this year has reached 26,605, already exceeding the total number of 21,218 cases in 2016. To better protect the city against seasonal influenza, the government should promote the vaccination programmes more aggressively and further reduce the cost of vaccination through centralised ordering of vaccines.
In response to my inquiry, the Department of Health states that there are 1.5 million Hong Kong residents eligible for free vaccination under the GVP and 1.9 million individuals entitled to subsidised vaccination under the VSS. Since there are over one million senior citizens covered by both GVP and VSS, it is estimated that up to 2.4 million individuals are eligible for free or subsidised flu shots. Considering the low participation rate of the GVP and VSS combined (about 29%), the Department of Health should devote more resources to marketing its vaccination programmes in order to protect more eligible residents. Mobile vaccination vehicles should be used to make the vaccines more accessible around the city. Vaccination teams should be sent to kindergartens, primary and secondary schools to inoculate the children.
In 2016/17, the government purchased 430,000 doses of vaccines, of which only 10,000 doses were discarded at the end. Given the government’s impressive accuracy in predicting the number of vaccines required, the Department of Health should also help the private doctors under VSS to purchase the vaccines. According to an influenza vaccine manufacturer in the US, it was always challenging to estimate the demand of the vaccines, forcing the consumers to share the cost of discarded doses. Therefore, the cost of the flu shots could be further reduced if the government centralizes the annual purchase of influenza vaccines in Hong Kong.
In 2000, a universal influenza immunisation program was introduced in Ontario, Canada, to provide free flu shots to everyone older than 6 months. Research suggested that this programme was economically attractive as it halved influenza-related health care costs and brought more years of health to the citizens. To battle influenza in the city, the Hong Kong government should consider experimenting with a similar universal vaccination programme.