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Health Services
HongKong’scomprehensiverangeofhealthservicescoupledwith improvements inthe
standardoflivinghavefosteredagoodgenerallevelofhealth in theSARthatisamongthe
best in the world.
Themain health indices, such as infant mortality rate,maternal mortality rate and overall life
expectancy,are similarnow to thoseofmostdeveloped countries in theWest.Achild born in
Hong Kong is immunized against Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B,
Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Major infectious diseases likeMalaria, Typhoid, and Cholera have
virtually been eliminated from Hong Kong; precautions against these are not generally needed.
Vaccinations
Before arriving in Hong Kong, make sure that your family’s vaccinations are current. Many
companies require this of their employeesanyway,but it isanopportunity to reviewwhat
immunizations may need to be updated.
Some pediatricians recommend that children should follow their home-country’s immunization
schedule while in Hong Kong in order to comply with school health requirements upon returning.
Werecommendyouconsultyourdoctor
foradviceonvaccinationsforyouandyourfamily.Wehavehighlighteda fewvaccination resourcesand recommendations below,butpleaseseek
professional advice from your local health care provider.
BCG/Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a common disease in Asian countries. Babies born in Hong Kong are
vaccinated at birth. Most countries in Europe do not vaccinate children until they are in their
teens, and America does not routinely vaccinate their population. However, the risk of contracting
TB ismuch higher here,and vaccination onarrival isrecommended. It can be contracted from
people coughingor spitting near you.TBcan cause chest infection,meningitis andmayaffect
other parts of the body. The disease requires at least six months of treatment.
For babies receiving the vaccination, it is common toget a red spot at the site of the vaccination
after four to six weeks.Thismay discharge and take several weeks to heal completely before
eventually becoming a white scar.Contact your doctor if it does not look as though it is healing properly.
For adults and children, a skin test is performed on your forearm (Tine Test) prior to vaccination.
If you do not react to the test with eruptions on the skin, youwill require vaccination. If it has been
a long time since your BCG vaccination, we would suggest testing your immunity by repeating the
TineTest.Itmaybe required toundergo treatmentforTB.Make sureyourhelper ischeckedand
vaccinatedagainstTB.
Diphtheria, Polio and Tetanus (DPT)
An initial immunization course is given before six months of age, and then boosters are required
at five years, 15 years and every 10 years thereafter.