184 | Health
for the year, the Government launched the 2011-12 vaccination programme on November 1, 2011, the scope of which was further extended to cover recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) aged 50-64 and CSSA recipients with obesity (Body Mass Index of 30 or above) in addition to those persons eligible in 2010-11. Apart from the seasonal influenza vaccination, the programme also provides one dose of free pneumococcal vaccination to all elderly persons living in residential care homes for the elderly or the disabled, those aged 65 or above with chronic medical problems attending public clinics, and those aged 65 or above receiving CSSA, who have not yet been vaccinated.
In 2011-12, the Government will continue the Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme which caters to children aged between six months and less than six years; and the Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme which applies to persons aged 65 or above, to provide subsidies for both target groups to receive seasonal influenza vaccinations at private clinics. Elders aged 65 or above who have never had pneumococcal vaccination before may receive one dose of subsidised vaccination. Two vaccination subsidy schemes, with a total of over 1 500 participating private doctors, were launched on September 26, 2011.
The Government also continues to provide free seasonal influenza vaccination for all eligible residents/boarders and staff of residential care homes for the elderly or the disabled, as well as free pneumococcal vaccination for all eligible residents living in residential care homes for the elderly or the disabled through over 300 visiting medical officers under the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme in the form of PPP.
These vaccination programmes help protect high risk groups and prevent them against related complications, hospitalisation and mortality.
Non-communicable Diseases
The biggest killers in Hong Kong are cancer, heart and cerebrovascular diseases, which together accounted for about 54.3 per cent of all registered deaths in 2011. Elderly people are the major victims of these chronic non-communicable diseases which will continue to cause an increasing number of deaths in Hong Kong as the population ages. To combat this problem, in 2008 the DH drew up 'Promoting Health in Hong Kong: A Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non- communicable Diseases', and formed a steering committee chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health comprising representatives from the Government, public and private sectors, academia, professional bodies, industry and other key partners to oversee the implementation of the framework.
Common chronic non-communicable diseases are mostly associated with people's lifestyle. In this connection, working groups were set up under the steering committee to put forward recommendations on issues of diet and physical activity as well as reduction of alcohol-related harm and injuries.
In September 2010 the DH launched an action plan prepared by the Working Group on Diet and Physical Activity focussing on risk factors and promoting a healthy diet and participation in physical activity. The plan also aims to create an