The Consumer Council discovered that nearly 95 percent of private child vaccination schemes require full prepayment, while several service providers charge an additional fee for pre-purchase medical consultations.
Between July and August this year, the watchdog surveyed the service charges and information for 19 child vaccination schemes, which are excluded in the “Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme”, from the websites of nine service providers.
The results revealed that eight of the nine surveyed providers required full prepayment, while only one allowed payment by dose.
Some medical facilities explained that full prepayment was necessary to pre-order vaccines from pharmaceutical companies, as they are often subject to minimum order quantities.
However, the Council pointed out that consumers may suffer financial losses if their personal plans change, and it urged service providers to offer more flexible payment arrangements to safeguard consumer rights.
The survey also showed that three providers charge an additional fee to consumers who wish to consult a doctor before purchase, while two of these providers charge HK$200 and HK$500, respectively.
Consumers are advised to consult a paediatrician or their family doctor to choose the most suitable vaccination scheme, thereby avoiding potential refund procedures and disputes.
Furthermore, one service provider was found to only allow vaccination bookings 30 days after payment due to the tight vaccine supply.
The watchdog urged the provider to improve the clarity of its information, as its website did not specify which vaccines were in short supply.
Additionally, parents are advised to keep vaccination records and receipts properly after arranging vaccinations for their children.
“If the healthcare facility or medical group suddenly closes during the scheme,” the watchdog said, “parents should promptly contact other facilities to arrange a catch-up vaccination.”
Parents should also consult a doctor on interchangeability if the available vaccine brand differs from the original.
