XN000022-1981-09-27 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1981

VACCINATION AGAINST GERMAN MEASLES

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INOCULATORS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG TO VACCINATE GIRLS IN PRIMARY 5 AND 6 AGAINST GERMAN MEASLES.

HEALTH VISITORS WILL ALSO BE GIVING HEALTH EDUCATION TALKS TO STUDENTS ON THE EFFECTS OF THE DISEASE DURING THE ANNUAL ANTI-RUBELLA CAMPAIGN AIMED AT PREVENTING THE BIRTH OF ABNORMAL BABIES.

PARENTS OF GIRLS ATTENDING THESE CLASSES ARE URGED TO COOPERATE BY SIGNING CONSENT FORMS BEING SENT TO THEM THROUGH THE IR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS.

THE HEALTH TEAMS WILL VISIT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG IN THE COMING THREE MONTHS TO VACCINATE THE GIRLS FOR LONG TERM PROTECTION AGAINST RUBELLA.

RUBELLA, COMMONLY CALLED GERMAN MEASLES, IS A VIRUS INFECTION. IF A WOMAN IN HER EARLY PREGNANCY IS AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE, SHE MAY GIVE BIRTH TO BABIES WITH CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES, SUCH AS DEAFNESS, BLINDNESS, HEART AND BRAIN DEFECTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY EXPLAINED WHY GIRLS ATTENDING PRIMARY 5 AND 6 WERE THE TARGET GROUP OF THE CAMPAIGN.

+ INOCULATION AT THE EARLY AGE CAN PRODUCE MAXIMUM PREVENTIVE EFFECT. BY THE TIME THE GIRLS REACH THE REPRODUCTIVE AGE, THEY WILL HAVE DEVELOPED IMMUNITY AGAINST THE DISEASE, HE SAID.

THE ANTI-RUBELLA CAMPAIGN IS BEING LAUNCHED ANNUALLY AND RESPONSE IN THE PAST WAS ENCOURAGING. OVER 180 000 GIRLS HAVE BEEN INOCULATED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WOMEN OF CHILD-BEAR ING AGE, WHO ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE IR OCCUPATION SUCH AS TEACHING OR NURSING, SHOULD ALSO BE VACCINATED.

THEY CAN OBTAIN THIS VACCINE, FREE OF CHARGE, AT ANY OF THE 39 GOVERNMENT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES.

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