The Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) gives Hong Kong children a series of free vaccines from birth through primary and secondary school.
Diseases it prevents
The vaccines in the programme protect against:
- Tuberculosis (BCG)
- Hepatitis B
- Diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus
- Polio
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Chickenpox
- Human papillomavirus (HPV, Primary 5 and 6 girls)
Where vaccination happens
Infants and children aged 0 to 5 are vaccinated at Maternal and Child Health Centres run by the Department of Health. Once children reach primary school, the Department's School Immunisation Teams deliver the remaining vaccines at school, including booster doses in Primary 1 and Primary 6 and the HPV vaccine for Primary 5 and 6 girls.
The schedule
Each vaccine is given in stages according to the child's age, and some need several doses to build and maintain immunity. The full schedule is published by the Family Health Service. Follow the schedule, take your child for vaccination on time, and keep the immunisation record card.
If your child missed a dose, or was born overseas with an incomplete record, ask a Maternal and Child Health Centre or your family doctor about catching up.