Improved registration process for dental clinics offering emergency services
With a view to further facilitating the walk-in emergency dental services for members of the public, the Department of Health (DH) today (May 27) said that starting from June 11, the registration time for the preliminary registration arrangements at its nine dental clinics providing general public sessions will be advanced from midnight on the day of service to 8pm on the day before service, allowing people in the queue to leave at an earlier time after preliminary registration.
The nine relevant dental clinics located in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories (except those on outlying islands) are Kennedy Town Community Complex Dental Clinic, Kowloon City Dental Clinic, Kwun Tong Dental Clinic, Mona Fong Dental Clinic, Tai Po Wong Siu Ching Dental Clinic, Fanling Health Centre Dental Clinic, Tsuen Wan Dental Clinic, Yan Oi Dental Clinic and Yuen Long Government Offices Dental Clinic. From June 11, the nine dental clinics will preliminarily register personal information for people in the queue and verify the originals of their identity documents starting at 8pm on the day before providing general public dental services. Each person can only register once. Staff would cease the preliminary registration when the number of registered persons reached the quota of the general public sessions. Those who have finished preliminary registration can leave the clinic immediately and do not have to continue waiting. They should return to the relevant clinics at the scheduled disc-distributing time in the morning on the service day (in the afternoon on the service day for Mona Fong Dental Clinic) to obtain a disc, register formally in order and receive treatment. The DH has recruited additional staff to maintain order.
For the sake of clarity, the preliminary registration arrangements for the general public sessions on June 11 will start at 8pm on the day before (i.e. June 10). Notices detailing the new arrangements and logistics will be displayed at conspicuous locations of the clinics. The addresses and time of operation of the relevant dental clinics can be viewed at websitewww.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_dcgps.html.
In addition, the development of software and systems by the DH is in full progress, with an aim to roll out an online disc distribution and registration system for the general public dental services this year. By then, there will be no need for the public to queue in person to obtain a disc. Meanwhile, the system can provide the public with real-time information on available quotas to ensure full utilisation.
Meanwhile, the Government is strenuously planning a series of measures to effectively enhance the local public dental services, including the collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to strengthen in the next year the emergency dental services targeting the underprivileged groups with financial difficulties through an expansion of service capacity, service points and service scope, thus promoting early identification and timely intervention of dental diseases. The target is to provide additional service capacity that will be at least twice the capacity provided by the current dental general public sessions. The programme details will be announced in due course.
The dental clinics under the DH are mainly responsible for providing dental benefits for civil servants/pensioners and their eligible dependents as required of the Government as terms of employment for civil servants, and therefore civil servants/pensioners and their eligible dependents are the major service targets of these clinics. Currently, dental care services in Hong Kong are mainly provided by the private sector and NGOs. The DH provides general public sessions to offer free emergency dental treatments (including general public sessions to provide treatment of acute dental diseases, prescription for pain relief, treatment of oral abscess and teeth extraction) to the public through designated sessions in 11 government dental clinics of the DH.
Source: AI-generated images
DH clarifies COVID-19 vaccination arrangements
In response to comments from a medical organisation about a lack of stock of COVID-19 vaccines and concerns about low COVID-19 vaccination rates, as well as related media enquiries, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 11) issued the following clarification:
Scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and death. Following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases(Joint Scientific Committee) under the CHP, the CHP has continuously encouraged the public to receive the vaccine at appropriate times to minimise the risk of severe disease and death after being infected by COVID-19. Thanks to the government's and relevant sectors' continuous efforts to promote vaccination, the uptake rate of the initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Hong Kong exceeds 90 per cent, which is considered high internationally.
Regarding COVID-19 booster vaccination, the Joint Scientific Committee recommended them only for high-risk priority groups. Besides, one must receive a vaccine booster at least 180 days after their last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later). Therefore, the vaccination rate is expected to be relatively low. Due to reinfection or vaccination, many people infected with COVID-19 experience milder symptoms and chose not to seek medical care. The Government faces limitations in collecting and reviewing the latest infection figures. As a result, the actual vaccination rates for high-risk priority groups cannot be accurately determined.
The CHP previously announced that the shelf life of the LP.8.1 vaccine for children and adults would expire in mid-July and early September of this year respectively, and that the production and shipment of COVID-19 vaccines containing new ingredients would take time. Starting October 29, the CHP has been providing the Spikevax XFG mRNA vaccine to childrenaged 6 months to 11 years. The first shipment of the new batch of Spikevax XFG vaccine for individuals aged 12 or above is expected to arrive in Hong Kong next month (December). By then, market supply will resume and private doctors will be able to order from pharmaceutical companies as usual. During this transitional period while awaiting vaccine production and delivery, the absence of COVID-19 vaccinations for adults is normal and temporary.
Regarding COVID-19 vaccination venues, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines currently in use require complex cold-chain handling and have a limited shelf life after thawing. To provide convenience to the public, minimise vaccine wastage and ensure vaccine efficacy, the Government has set up a total of 75 COVID-19 vaccination venues across Hong Kong, including Specialist Out-patient Clinics (SOPCs) and Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs) in public hospitals, private clinics, Maternal and Child Health Centres, etc. Given that patients co-infected with seasonal influenza and COVID-19 are at a higher risk of severe complications and death, the CHP all along recommends that priority groups receive both seasonal influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination booster to reduce the risk of serious illness and death.Eligible persons can receive both COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations at all current COVID-19 vaccination venues, including SOPCs and FMCs of the concerned public hospitals, as well as private clinics. Therefore, the CHP considers that there is currently no need to further expand the number of COVID-19 vaccination venues.
According to a survey conducted by the medical organisation concerned, nearly 40 per cent of the doctors surveyed do not proactively remind patients to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The CHP expressed concern about this and urged healthcare professionals to proactively remind patients of the importance of receiving COVID-19 vaccination in a timely manner. Even if their clinics do not provide vaccination services, healthcare professionals can still provide patients with information about the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme to help safeguard public health.
The CHP will continue to strengthen publicity and education efforts through various online and offline channels to encourage priority groups to receive COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible once the COVID-19 vaccines for persons aged 12 or above is available.
For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, please visit the CHP's website.
Source: AI-found images
