MONDAY, MAY 12, 1975
THE FIGHT AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES # # # # # #
BEHIND THE DOORS OF A $3 MILLION BUILDING IN POKFULAM, SHALL BAND OF TECHNICIANS QUIETLY CARRIES OUT ITS VITAL TASK OF PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
THEY MANUFACTURE AND TURN OUT A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF HUMAN VACCINES TO MEET THE NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY DEMAND AND KEEP ADEQUATE STOCKS FOR EMERGENCY USE.
THE DUILDING IS THE INSTITUTE OF IMMUNOLOGY RUN DY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE INSTITUTE PRODUCES THREE TYPES OF BACTERIAL VACCINES AND TWO TYPES OF VIRAL VACCINES,
THE BACTERIAL VACCINES PRODUCED INCLUDE THOSE FOR PREVENTING CHOLERA, TYPHOID-PARATYPHOID AND PLAGUE, WHILE THE VIRAL VACCINES ARE FOR RABIES AND SMALLPOX,
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BACTERIAL VACCINES ARE MADE FROM ARTIFICIAL CULTURE MEDIA AND VIRAL VACCINES ARE PRODUCED FROM ANIMALS SUCH AS GOATS AND BUFFALO CALVES.
THE VACCINES HAVE TO UNDERGO A SERIES OF TESTS TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND POTENCY DEFORE RELEASE FOR USE.
LAST YEAR, THE INSTITUTE PRODUCED NEARLY 900,000 MILLILITRES OF VACCINES. ALL VACCINES PRODUCED ARE MEANT FOR USE LOCALLY AND ARE SUPPLIED TO GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, VACCINES ARE SOMETIMES SUPPLIED TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, SUCH AS THE PHILIPPINES, SOUTH KOREA, CAMBODIA AND IRAQ TO MEET THEIR URGENT NEEDS.
❖THE INSTITUTE IS AWARE OF AND PREPARED FOR ANY INCREASE IN DEMAND OF THESE VACCINES,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INSTITUTE SAID, +IN CASE OF EPIDEMIC OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA OR TYPHOID, THE STAFF OF THE INSTITUTE TOGETHER WITH REINFORCEMENT FROM THE INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY CAN PRODUCE C0,000 TO 100,000 DOSES OF THE BACTERIAL VACCINES A DAY.*
THE INSTITUTE, LOCATED IN VICTORIA ROAD, WAS OPENED IN 1972 TO REPLACE THE OLD VACCINE LABORATORY IN CAINE LANE BUILT IN 1905.
IT COMPRISES FOUR CLOCKS OF BUILDINGS ACCOMMODATING OFFICES, LABORATORIES, COLD STORAGE FOR VACCINES, AND ANIMAL HOUSES AS WELL AS QUARTERS FOR RESIDENT STAFF.
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