Press Releases
SFH on human swine flu
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session after attending the 60th
Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for the
Western Pacific today (September 21):
Reporter: (about human swine flu vaccine produced by the Mainland)
Secretary for Food and Health: The WHO is not accrediting any vaccine. It is
the regulatory authorities of individual countries that actually give the
accreditation. China has its own accreditation.
Reporter: Will we buy any vaccine from China?
Secretary for Food and Health: If China is going to bid for it. But my
understanding is at the moment China's production is aiming mostly for
internal consumption and it still falls short of what they expect would
require, so most unlikely they can supply to Hong Kong. But the Minister of
Health has promised that in case Hong Kong requires vaccine and if we cannot
obtain from any other sources, he is very willing to help.
Reporter: (about human swine flu vaccine tendering exercise)
Secretary for Food and Health: The decision will be made by the Government
Logistics Department together with the Department of Health.
Reporter: (about human swine flu vaccine tendering exercise)
Secretary for Food and Health: They need to make a choice because there is
more than one tender received.
Reporter: Are you concerned that at the end of September if we are still in
tendering process, we are going to lose out on procurement?
Secretary for Food and Health: No, I think most of the countries will not
get their vaccine until almost November. So we do have sufficient time. And
after all, our second wave (of human swine flu), according to experts, is
expected to fall in the same seasonal flu peak which will be in January or
February. So we do have time to observe the vaccination programme of the
other Northern Hemisphere countries, including China, European and North
American countries.
Reporter: (about measures to tackle human swine flu)
Secretary for Food and Health: We will consider it in due course. So far, it
still serves some purpose although I agree that actually the purpose of
public health control is diminishing. We will look at when is the
appropriate time to change this policy.
Reporter: Which policy?
Secretary for Food and Health: We mean border control.
Reporter: You mean the filling in of health forms?
Secretary for Food and Health: Yes, the health declaration forms.
Reporter: How about the scanners?
Secretary for Food and Health: The scanners are still necessary. The
temperature scanning doesn't bother people that much. People just walk
through. I think it is still a useful measure.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese session of the transcript)
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:00
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