Hongkongers urged to get flu jabs as experts warn cases likely to surge when mercury drops
Hospital Authority to launch seasonal influenza vaccination programmes this week, including school and care home outreach projects
Flu cases in Hong Kong are likely to rise as temperatures start to dip, health authorities have warned, with the government stepping up efforts to get more toddlers vaccinated.
The Hospital Authority said it would launch its seasonal influenza vaccination programmes on Thursday, including special outreach projects targeting schools and residential care homes.
The latest list of venues offering seasonal flu jabs will also include 16 district health centres.
From 9am on Wednesday, families can also book vaccinations at maternal and child health centres for children aged six months to under two years.
Dr Raymond Lai Wai-man, the authority’s chief infection control officer, said: “As Hong Kong is about to enter winter, the risk of influenza transmission will increase.”
He warned that some high-risk individuals and even healthy adults could potentially develop severe or fatal complications due to catching the flu.
Lai said it typically took two to four weeks after getting a vaccine for a patient to develop suitable immunity levels that could last at least six months, which would be sufficient to get them through the winter flu season.
