Hong Kong Orientation Guide

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.We havehighlighteda 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.

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