成人免疫接種
為健康保本，及時接種適合你的疫苗!
世界衞生組織(世衞)在今年的世界免疫周以「人人享長壽」為主題，鼓勵世界各地所有年齡層的人士接種疫苗。世衞估計，免疫接種計劃可以為全球每年減少大約三百五十萬至五百萬宗死亡個案1。
不少市民認為只有長者和兒童才需要免疫接種，而忽略了其實不同年齡人士都有機會受到病毒或細菌感染。細菌和病毒無處不在，而且看不見、捉不到。加上隨著年齡增長，身體抵抗病毒的能力會相對遞減，有些疫苗可預防的疾病更加會致命。所以在人生的不同年齡和階段接種有效而合適的疫苗，才可以避免患上疫苗可預防的疾病，活得健康長壽。
過去兩年多在全球肆虐的2019冠狀病毒為公共衞生及預防醫療上了重要的一課，面對世紀疫症，本港以至全球各地的數據均證實，接種新冠疫苗有效並且大幅減低患重症人數、入院率和死亡率。免疫接種可為我們提供：
- 群體免疫：當社區中大多數人都接種了有效的疫苗，因身體狀況而無法接種疫苗的人士，例如年幼嬰孩、患嚴重疾病和有嚴重過敏反應的人士亦能因「群體免疫」而間接獲得保護。
- 減低抗生素抗藥性：如能按時接種疫苗有助預防細菌感染，從而減少使用抗生素。
- 對經濟帶來正面影響：當大量人口因未有接種疫苗而患病會降低生產力，繼而直接影響地區經濟。
為響應世衞的呼籲，及為市民提供更多免疫接種的資訊，香港醫學會推出「成人免疫接種」公眾教育計劃，提供有關常見疫苗可預防的疾病資訊，以消除他們對疫苗的誤解，並以苗氏一家四口為故事主人翁，帶出不同年齡人士適合接種的疫苗，為健康保本。計劃以多媒體發放疫苗資訊，適合不同人士參考。計劃設有專題網頁，當中以簡單易明的文字，拆解較複雜的醫學知識，讓市民釋除對疾病、疫苗，和免疫接種的疑慮，增加接種的信心。亦有特別製作的動畫短片，透過苗氏一家四口的家庭會議，讓公眾認識最適合的疾病預防方法。計劃亦包括印製海報，供本會醫生會員張貼於診所內，方便向市民講解。維護和推廣公眾健康是香港醫學會推出此計劃的目標。
「成人免疫接種」公眾教育計劃網頁現已公開發佈，動畫短片亦已上載至本會的YouTube 頻道播放。本會亦將於8月至10月期間，每月舉辦一場網上公眾講座，首節公眾講座將於8月27日(星期六)舉行，主題是《為健康保本系列之一：百日咳、生蛇、肺炎球菌》，詳情將於本會Facebook及「成人免疫接種」公眾教育計劃網頁上公佈，歡迎市民參與。如對免疫接種有任何疑問，可向你的家庭醫生查詢。
為健康保本，及時接種適合你的疫苗!
二零二二年七月三十一日
參考資料：
[1] 世界衞生組織 – 疫苗及免疫接種
https://www.who.int/health-topics/vaccines-and-immunization#tab=tab_1
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
31 July 2022
Adult Immunization
Invest in Your Health, Get Vaccinated Now!
The 2022 theme of World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Immunization Week “Long Life for All” aims to encourage people of all ages across countries to get vaccinated. According to WHO, immunization prevents 3.5 – 5 million deaths every year worldwide1.
Many people believe that immunization is only for elderly and children, and neglect the fact that people in different age groups can also get infection. Bacteria and viruses are everywhere, invisible and impalpable. Our immune systems tend to get weaker with age, putting us at increased risk for certain diseases. It is also worth noting that some vaccine-preventable diseases are actually life-threatening. Only with effective and age-appropriate vaccination, we can stay away with the vaccine-preventable diseases and live a healthier longer life.
The COVID-19 outbreak over the past 2 years has given us a textbook example on public health and preventive medicine. Local data and worldwide studies supported that COVID-19 vaccination is effective and can vastly reduce the number of severe cases, and both rates of hospitalization and deaths. In general, immunization provides:
- Herd immunity: When the majority of people in the community are immunized with effective vaccination, those who are unable to receive vaccination due to health conditions, e.g. young children, people who are seriously ill or are affected by severe allergy, can also be protected through herd immunity.
- Reduce the antimicrobial resistance: Vaccination on time can help prevent infection, so as to reduce the use of antibiotics.
- Positive economic impact: The community’s productivity and economy will be adversely affected when a large population are infected if they are unvaccinated.
In support of the WHO appeal on immunization and to provide further information on immunization, the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) launches Adult Immunization Public Education Campaign today. The Campaign offers information on common vaccine-preventable diseases, and explanation on vaccination for myths-busting. The “Miu’s family” is designed as the key characters of the Campaign to promote age-appropriate vaccination. Multimedia educational materials including animation, webpage, social media and printed posters are produced to disseminate important vaccination messages. Medical terms are narrated in simple language in the webpage. In the animation, knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases is illustrated through a discussion of the Miu family. To facilitate explanation by doctors to patients in their clinics, posters on vaccination schedule are also distributed. “To safeguard and promote public health” is the foremost objective of the HKMA.
The webpage and the animation of Adult Immunization Public Education Campaign are launched. In addition, there will be 3 monthly public talks from August to October. The first talk will be organized on 27 August (Saturday) and the topic is “Invest in Your Health Series 1: Pertussis, Herpes Zoster, and Pneumococcal”. Details will be announced on our Facebook page and the webpage. Everyone is welcome to join. If you have further enquiry on immunization, please consult your family doctors.
Invest in Your Health, Get Vaccinated Now!
Reference:
- World Health Organization – World Immunization Campaign
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week/world-immunization-week-2022
編輯備忘：香港醫學會成立於一九二零年，旨在聯繫政府、各公立醫療機構、大學及私人執業的醫務工作者，交流意見，團結一心。醫學會致力將最新的醫療資訊及醫務發展傳遞與會員，提倡會員遵行專業操守，進而服務社會，維護民康。
Notes to editors: The Hong Kong Medical Association, founded in 1920, aims to bring together Hong Kong's government, institutional, university and private medical practitioners for an effective exchange of views and co-ordination of efforts. The foremost objective of the Association is to safeguard and promote public health. The Association speaks collectively for its members and aims to keep its members abreast of medical ethics, issues and advances around the world. In fulfilling these goals, the association hopes to better serve the people of Hong Kong.
查詢 ：袁巧蓮女士 電話 ：2527 8941
網址 ：www.hkma.org 電郵 ：media@hkma.org