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Do our part to fight the pandemic through vaccination
各界齊心盡己責 接種疫苗抗疫情

各界齊心盡己責 接種疫苗抗疫情


Delta變種病毒傳染力強,已在多個國家蔓延,成為全球流行最主要的病毒株,在英美等地更先後出現疫情反彈。即使本地零確診近兩個月,但情況隨時可被打破,如上周在機場出現的源頭不明個案;而且外國疫情未見明朗,第五波疫情隨時來襲,市民絕不能掉以輕心,需盡早建立個人防疫屏障。政府對外力防輸入個案的同時,市民亦應盡快接種新冠疫苗,護己護人,方能全面抵禦變種病毒所帶來的威脅。

 

  1. 香港醫學會認同在高危場所工作的市民,如機場及邊境員工;及需接觸大量易受感染人士,如老人及殘疾人士院舍、醫院、學校等職員,均需接種疫苗以保護自己及身邊人。由於長者、幼童及病人自身抵抗力較弱,或受身體情況所限而未能接種疫苗,所以更需要前線員工的高接種率來增加保護。根據政府提供的數據,截自八月二日,已有九成醫管局醫生接種疫苗,總體員工接種率達67%;安老及殘疾人士院舍員工的接種率亦達64%。醫學會欣賞醫管局醫生在接種新冠疫苗上立下榜樣,前線員工們亦以受照顧者的健康為先,盡責地接種疫苗。醫學會並鼓勵未接種的前線員工及醫護人員盡一己之責,並以護己護人為出發點,盡快接種以加強這些高危場所的防疫屏障。
     
  2. 為鼓勵上述人士接種疫苗,院舍、醫院及學校負責人亦應安排便利措施,讓員工可於上班期間接種疫苗。而現時公立醫院、老人院舍大多只提供有限度探訪。醫學會認為,在社區個案受控制,沒有本地爆發的前提下,如個別醫院或院舍的員工接種率達一定程度(如七成以上),便可考慮進一步放寬已完成接種疫苗探訪者的名額。醫院病人及長者大多在疫情期間感到孤獨無助,病人自身甚至家人亦同會焦慮抑鬱,如可放寬探訪限制,將對病人、長者的身心健康有極大幫助,同時亦可減輕前線員工的壓力及負擔。
     
  3. 不少市民憂慮疫苗未能有效地抵禦Delta變種病毒,部分更希望等待有第二代疫苗才考慮接種。事實上,現有的疫苗對變種病毒有一定的保護作用。 英格蘭公眾健康(Public Health England, PHE)的研究指,兩劑復必泰疫苗預防Delta變種病毒所引起重症住院的有效率為96%[1]。即使對輕微及無症狀感染的預防率有所下降,但重要的是,本港提供的兩款疫苗均能大幅減低感染者的重症徵狀及死亡率,即使受到感染,亦能大大減低對醫療系統的壓力。因此,市民不應拖延,更需盡快接種疫苗。
     
  4. 一些疫情控制本來較好的國家及地區,如澳洲、內地某些省份及澳門等,近日亦因外地輸入個案而導致零星爆發,香港必須引以為鑑,切勿放鬆各項入境檢疫安排,並需密切監察外國疫情,適時更新風險地區組別名單,以限制高風險地區人士入境。此外,政府需重新審視現時到港人士豁免強制檢疫的安排(如外交、商務人員;「回港易」入境人士等),除了查核該類人士抵港後的行程外,亦應考慮他們的居住環境才發出豁免許可,如人口密度高的屋苑則切勿放鬆他們的強制檢疫,否則有很大機會讓病毒流出社區,隨時引致本地大規模爆發。政府亦需讓獲豁免人士清楚知悉其家居檢疫等防疫安排,以防有個別人士違例,為本地社區帶來威脅。
     

香港醫學會在此呼籲社會各界齊心接種疫苗,為香港、為親友建立群體免疫屏障,攜手一起戰勝疫情!

 

二零二一年八月二十三日

 

附:記者會照片

 

資料來源:

[1 ] https://khub.net/web/phe-national/public-library/-/document_library/v2WsRK3ZlEig/view_file/479607329?_com_liferay_document_library_web_portlet_DLPortlet_INSTANCE_v2WsRK3ZlEig_redirect=https://khub.net:443/web/phe-national/public-library/-/document_library/v2WsRK3ZlEig/view/479607266 ,2021年8月16日。

 


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23 August 2021

Do our part to fight the pandemic through vaccination

 

The highly infectious COVID-19 Delta variant is moving fast across the world and has become the most dominant strain worldwide, leading to a resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases in countries like the UK and the US. Although Hong Kong has kept the local infection “zero” for around 2 months, the situation can be interrupted; as such the case of an unknown origin at the airport recently. The fifth wave could strike at any time considering the precariousness of the global pandemic. Therefore, the public must stay cautious and continue to strengthen our shield of protection as soon as possible. In order to defend our city against the threat posed by the mutant virus in all aspects, all imported cases from abroad must be intercepted; meanwhile, local vaccination uptake must be further enhanced.

 

  1. The Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) recognises that citizens working in high-risk places, such as the airport and the border; and those who need much contact with vulnerable individuals, such as the staff of elderly homes & residential care homes for persons with disabilities, hospitals and schools, need to be vaccinated to protect themselves and the people around. As the elderly, children and patients either have a weaker immune system or are limited by their physical conditions to receive their jabs. Therefore, it is necessary for the frontline staff to be inoculated to increase the protection of these high-risk areas. According to the data provided by the Government, as of 2 August 2021, 90% of HA doctors have already been vaccinated, and the inoculation rate for overall HA staff was 67%. As for the elderly & residential care homes for persons with disabilities, 64% of the staff has also received the vaccination. The HKMA appreciates that HA doctors have demonstrated an excellent example in COVID-19 vaccination, and the frontline staff from elderly and residential care homes prioritising their care receivers’ health and getting inoculated responsibly. The HKMA also appeals to those unvaccinated healthcare workers and staff from relevant high-risk workplaces to have dutiful vaccination as soon as possible to protect themselves and others.
     
  2. In order to encourage the above-mentioned personnel to be vaccinated, the management of the elderly and residential care homes, schools and hospitals should arrange suitable measures to facilitate employees to be immunised during work. At present, most public hospitals and elderly homes only provide limited visit quotas each day. On the premise of COVID-19 infection being controlled and no major outbreak in the local community, the HKMA believes that if the vaccination rate of an individual institution reaches a certain level (such as 70% or more), it can consider further relaxing the number of fully vaccinated visitors. In fact, most of the hospital patients and the elderly feel lonely and helpless when they are hospitalised or in the elderly homes, themselves and even their family members may also feel anxious and depressed. If visiting restrictions can be relaxed, it will significantly help the physical and mental health of these people. Also, the pressure on the hospital and elderly home staff can consequently be released.
     
  3. Many worries about vaccines’ effectiveness against the Delta variant virus, and some prefer to wait for the second-generation vaccine. In fact, the current vaccines are proven effective against the virus variants. The research of Public Health England (PHE) indicated that two doses of the BioNTech vaccine is 96% [2]effective against hospitalisation with the Delta variant. Even though the protection against mild and asymptomatic infections has declined, it is important that both vaccines Hong Kong administrated can significantly reduce infected people’s severe symptoms and mortality rate. Even if breakthrough infection occurs, vaccines can substantially reduce the pressure on our medical system. Therefore, the public should not be delayed and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
     
  4. Several minor outbreaks were spotted in COVID-19 previously well-controlled countries or regions such as Australia, some provinces of Mainland China and Macau. Hong Kong must learn from the lesson and the Government should remain stringent in regard to the quarantine measures for inbound travellers, pay close attention to the global outbreaks and update the list of ‘Categories of specified places’ promptly. In addition, the Government needs to re-examine the current arrangements for Exemption from Compulsory Quarantine Arrangement for inbound travellers (such as diplomatic and business personnel; travellers via Return2HK, etc.). In addition to checking the itinerary of such individuals, the Government should consider their living conditions as an essential factor before permitting their exemption. For example, the quarantine arrangement of the people living in high density housing should not be relaxed at will. Otherwise, there will be a high chance of virus transmission or even causing a large-scale outbreak. The Government also needs to make sure all exempted persons are aware of their home quarantine restriction to prevent individuals from breaking the laws and posing threats to the local community.
     

The Hong Kong Medical Association hereby appeals to all citizens to do their part in combating the pandemic through vaccination, build a herd immune barrier for Hong Kong, our relatives and friends, and work together to fight the virus!

 

Encl.: Photos of the press conference

 

Reference:

[2] https://khub.net/web/phe-national/public-library/-/document_library/v2WsRK3ZlEig/view_file/479607329?_com_liferay_document_library_web_portlet_DLPortlet_INSTANCE_v2WsRK3ZlEig_redirect=https://khub.net:443/web/phe-national/public-library/-/document_library/v2WsRK3ZlEig/view/479607266

 

Self Photos / Files - image002

 

Self Photos / Files - image003

 

 


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 

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