Recommended target groups for seasonal influenza vaccine

23 July 2010

The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has recommended nine categories of people to receive vaccination against seasonal influenza for the 2010/11 influenza season.

The nine target groups are:

1) elderly persons living in residential care homes;
2) long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled;
3) elderly persons aged 65 years or above;
4) persons with chronic illnesses;
5) health care workers;
6) children aged six months to five years;
7) pregnant women;
8) poultry workers; and
9) pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel.

Members of the public not included in the recommendation who wish to obtain influenza vaccine for their personal protection are advised to consult their private doctors.

The recommendation has been uploaded to the CHP website, www.chp.gov.hk.