Health officials will review the city's flu prevention strategy amid growing criticism of the low vaccination rate, especially among health care workers.
The winter flu peak has seen nine deaths so far, with 39 patients being admitted to intensive care units.
Senior doctors and experts in infectious diseases blame the government's outdated promotion of the flu vaccination programme for the high number of severe cases and deaths this winter peak, which is expected to last until the end of March. They are also calling for a universal flu vaccination programme.
Some public hospitals have started deploying vaccination teams to individual departments to inject their colleagues, instead of asking them to visit staff clinics.
The Legislative Council's health services panel is scheduled to discuss the latest flu situation today.
Senior health officials say they will review their flu strategies, including seeking advice from an expert committee for a possible redefinition of 'high-risk' groups. The current seasonal flu peak, dominated by human swine flu, is attacking not only children and the elderly, but also young people with no underlying diseases. About 40 per cent of those suffering severe complications have no underlying diseases.
The Centre for Health Protection focuses its flu prevention efforts on nine target categories, including children under six, people aged over 65, health care workers and those in the poultry industry.
