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FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1978
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVEL ABROAD
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY ADVISED THAT PEOPLE INTENDING TO TRAVEL ABROAD SHOULD CHECK WITH THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE OR AIRLINE COMPANIES ON THE REQUIREMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AGAINST CHOLERA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT MOST MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (W.H.D.), INCLUDING SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED COUNTRIES, DO NOT REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF A CHOLERA VACCINATION CERTIFICATE.
HOWEVER, CERTAIN COUNTRIES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE THE REQUIREMENT WHENEVER THEY DEEM NECESSARY, HE SAID.
+AS THESE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS MAY CHANGE, TRAVELLERS
ARE ADVISED THAT IF IN DOUBT THEY SHOULD CHECK WITH THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE OR AIRLINE COMPANIES BEFORE LEAVING HONG KONG,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE VALIDITY OF THE CHOLERA VACCINATION CERTIFICATE SHALL EXTEND FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, BEGINNING SIX DAYS AFTER ONE INJECTION OF THE VACCINE OR IN THE EVENT OF A REVACCINATION WITHIN SUCH PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, ON THE DATE OF THAT REVACCINATION.
SINCE 1974, MOST COUNTRIES INCLUDING HONG KONG, HAVE FOLLOWED THE W.H.O. RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR CHOLERA VACCINATION CERTIFICATES SHOULD NO LONGER BE IMPOSED EVEN FOR TRAVELLERS FROM CHOLERA INFECTED AREA.
+THIS IS BECAUSE EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH IN THE LAST TWO DECADES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE USE OF CHOLERA VACCINE HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING THE IMPORTATION OF CHOLERA FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+IT HAS ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT THE ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE BY ITSELF IS NOT EFFICACIOUS IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AND CAN ONLY GIVE PARTIAL PROTECTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL FOR ONLY A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD,+ HE ADDED.
ACCORDING TO THE W.H.O. FINDINGS, THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES ARE TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS IN THE PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION OF FOOD AND WATER, AND GOOD PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.
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