Press Release
Influenza vaccination urged for target groups
14 January 2013
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today (January 14) called on the public to keep vigilant against influenza and advised high risk target groups and eligible persons to receive influenza vaccination as soon as possible in order to protect themselves in view of the upsurge of flu cases in North America and other parts of the world.
The spokesman said that apart from closely monitoring global and local influenza activity, the Centre has also been keeping a close eye on influenza activity in neighbouring areas. According to the information from health authorities of Guangdong and Macao, they have not yet entered the peak influenza season.
In Hong Kong, the latest flu detection reported has increased from 48 in week ending January 5 to 84 in the week ending January 12. The current circulating influenza viruses mainly included influenza A(H3N2) (59.5 per cent), influenza A(H1N1)2009 (35.7%) and influenza B (4.8 %). Two institutional influenza-like illness outbreaks, affecting 5 to 20 persons per outbreak, were recorded in the week ending January 12, as compared to 0 outbreaks in the preceding week.
To monitor the severity of local influenza activity, CHP will collaborate with the Hospital Authority (HA) and private hospitals to reactivate the enhanced surveillance this Friday in order to monitor influenza-associated deaths and admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in anticipation of the coming flu season.
Influenza can cause medical complications, especially among vulnerable people such as the elderly, young children and those with chronic medical conditions. The spokesman stressed that influenza vaccination can reduce complications, hospitalization and death. As serious influenza infection can occur even in healthy individuals and influenza vaccines are safe and effective, all members of the public (except those with known contraindications) can consult their family doctors to receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection.
As the influenza season is expected to arrive in the coming weeks, and it will take about two weeks for the body to develop a sufficient level of antibodies to protect against influenza virus infection, the following target groups are advised to receive influenza vaccinations under the Government Vaccination Programme as soon as possible to protect their health:
* All pregnant women receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA);
* Elderly persons living in residential care homes (RCHs);
* Long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled;
* Persons aged 50 or above receiving CSSA;
* Persons aged 65 or above with chronic medical problems requiring follow-up in public clinics;
* Persons aged under 65 with chronic medical problems receiving CSSA and some long-stay in-patients of the HA with chronic medical problems;
* Health-care workers of the DH, the HA, other Government departments, elderly homes or institutions for the disabled;
* Children between the age of 6 months and less than 6 years from families receiving CSSA;
* Poultry workers or staff who may be involved in poultry culling; and
* Pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel.
Eligible persons may receive vaccination from clinics or hospitals under the DH or the HA. Residents and staff of RCHs for the elderly and disabled will receive free vaccination in their institutions by private doctors enrolled as Visiting Medical Officers under the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme.
Meanwhile, subsidised vaccination has also been provided through private doctors to eligible children and elderly persons under the Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme respectively.
The public are reminded to take the following measures to prevent respiratory tract infection:
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
* Wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
* Maintain good indoor ventilation; and
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
Members of the public, particularly young children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases, should wear face masks and consult their doctors promptly if they develop influenza-like symptoms.
For more information on influenza and its prevention, please visit the CHP website at This link will open in a new windowhttp://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/14843.html.