|
HONG KONG will limit the number of nonresident children getting vaccinations at government-run clinics, after an illegal vaccine scandal on the Chinese mainland raised fears some families would come to the city for inoculations and put pressure on supplies.
From tomorrow, Hong Kong’s Maternal and Child Health Centers will only accept 120 new nonresident children for vaccinations per month between its 31 clinics. Nonresident children will also only be able to book an appointment when there is spare capacity and will have to pay a higher fee.
“The government’s policy is to accord priority to local children,” Hong Kong’s Assistant Director of Health for Family and Elderly Health Services, Teresa Li, said in a statement yesterday. “We will closely monitor the utilization of services by [nonresident children] and may adjust the quota or withhold new case bookings.”
Hong Kong would also order additional vaccine supplies if needed, another spokeswoman said.
Chinese authorities said this month a mother and daughter had illegally traded nearly US$90 million worth of vaccines and sold them to hundreds of re-sellers around the country.
The vaccines, which police said were made by licensed producers, were not kept refrigerated, meaning they could be ineffective.
A task force established by the Central Government has pledged thorough investigation into and stern punishment of those involved in the illegal vaccine case.
The cross-departmental working group, led by Bi Jingquan, head of the China Food and Drug Administration, convened its first plenary session Tuesday to set the tone for the investigation.
The group was set up Monday and headed to Shandong Province the same evening.
Anyone who tries to conceal facts or provide fake information to hinder the investigation will be harshly punished, the task force said at Tuesday’s meeting, adding the scandal has exposed long-standing loopholes in the vaccine distribution system.
Officials found guilty of negligence should be held accountable, said the group.
(SD-Agencies)
|
