The Hospital Authority will begin administering seasonal flu vaccines for eligible individuals in public hospitals and outpatient clinics starting this Thursday (Sept. 26).
Eligible individuals for free vaccination include long-term patients aged from 2 to 18 and those aged 50 or above who are regularly attending follow-up consultations, pregnant women receiving prenatal care, and individuals aged from 18 to 49 with documented intellectual or other disabilities, as well as long-term patients receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. Furthermore, patients attending follow-up consultations only need to request the vaccine from healthcare staff without making an appointment; those who do not have a follow-up consultation in the near future can call or visit respective clinics to make an appointment for vaccination.
Dr. Luk Man-hei, a consultant in the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care at United Christian Hospital, indicates that there have been 33 cases of severe complications or deaths related to flu among children reported in Hong Kong by Sept. 11 this year, 6 of which are cases of deaths. The vaccines being administered this year are quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines, effective against the influenza viruses A H1, and H3 as well as influenza virus B.
Dr. Luk further emphasizes that the flu peak can arrive very quickly, and it takes 2 to 4 weeks for the vaccine to generate antibodies in the body. He recommends that individuals without contraindications get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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