CHP responds to media enquiries on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach Programme
In response to media inquiries regarding the latest situation of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) School Outreach Programme, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 24) gave the following response:
All schools may choose to use live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV nasal vaccines)
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To further optimise the School Outreach Programme, this year all schools may opt for the LAIV nasal vaccines and the "hybrid mode", which allows schools to choose both the injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and the LAIV during the same or different outreach vaccination activities. So far, the CHP has not received any reports from schools or medical teams indicating that supply issues have prevented the arrangement of the LAIV nasal vaccine.
School outreach activities this season will generally be completed earlier than last season
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To boost SIV rates, enrolment for the SIV School Outreach Programme has started since the beginning of June this year, which was earlier than last year. With the concerted efforts of the Government and various community sectors (including the medical sector and schools), approximately 2 300 schools (99 per cent) are going to arrange SIV school outreach activities. Among these, about 1 350 schools (59 per cent) have scheduled to carry out the outreach activities by the end of this month, and over 2 190 schools (95 per cent) by the end of next month (November), which are respectively higher than last year's 45 per cent and 83 per cent. All in all, this season's school outreach activities will generally be completed earlier than last season's.
Since the start of the school year, about 930 schools have held SIV school outreach activities, which is higher than of 650 compared to the same period in the last season. In view of this year's summer influenza season, coupled with the recent increase in seasonal influenza activity and the number of school outbreaks, the CHP has actively contacted the schools in mid-October, urging them to try to further advance school outreach activities where feasible. Currently, 23 schools have responded to the CHP's call to advance their outreach activities, originally scheduled for December this year or January next year, to be held by the end of next month.
The CHP expressed sincere gratitude to the schools and medical institutions which co-operated to advance vaccination activities. The CHP understands that participating schools have to take into account various objective factors such as the school calendar and staffing when scheduling school outreach activities, and coordinate with participating medical teams on the appropriate time. Should schools encounter any difficulties in advancing their outreach activities, they may contact the CHP during office hours at 3975 4872 and the CHP will provide full assistance.
Vaccine supply is subject to pharmaceutical companies' production schedules
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The World Health Organization (WHO) usually announces the seasonal influenza virus strains for the Northern Hemisphere from February to March each year. Pharmaceutical companies worldwide then produce appropriate vaccines based on the WHO's announcement for public procurement. Due to the time required for production and transportation, experience shows that vaccines normally arrive in different countries and regions between September and October the earliest. In the past two years, the CHP has actively engaged with pharmaceutical manufacturers with a view to secure vaccines as early as possible. This year, the CHP received the vaccines around mid-September.
The CHP will continue to closely monitor the vaccine supply at the international level and the implementation of the SIV School Outreach Programme, striving to ensure stable vaccine supply and enhance the flexibility of the School Outreach Programme in order to meet the vaccination needs of different groups and better safeguard public health.
Source: AI-found images
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
