Prisca Tang
The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement on Saturday that it is offering free flu shots for residents from today, adding that it is prioritising high-risk residents.
The bureau reminded residents that those who have just received their COVID-19 jabs need to wait two weeks before they can have the influenza shots.
The statement defines high-risk as: Macau residents aged between six months and 18 years, pregnant women, those suffering from chronic diseases, obese persons – i.e. those with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30, and all those aged 50 or over. The statement also said that children attending crèches and kindergartens, primary and secondary school students, higher education institution students, and senior citizens living in retirement homes, as well as staff members of all these institutions, will also be offered free flu shots, as well as health workers and casino staff who are local residents.
According to the statement, the vaccinations will cover the 2021-22 northern hemisphere flu season period. The bureau said that it has ordered 180,000 doses of quadrivalent flu vaccines for the seasonal influenza shots.
The statement said that in order to make the inoculation process more convenient, the bureau will offer a collective vaccination programme, by sending medical workers to crèches, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools to carry out collective vaccinations for students and staff members. Those who do not benefit from the collective vaccination programme, can visit local health centres, the private Kiang Wu Hospital, public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, Macau University Science and Technology Hospital, and Workers’ Clinic (工人醫療所) to get jabbed.
The bureau reminded those who had a jab between September last year and August this year for the 2020-2021 flu season will have to get the new shot, which will cover the upcoming winter and next year’s summer in the northern hemisphere.
The statement pointed out that autumn and winter are the seasons with a high incidence of respiratory diseases, underlining the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is still on-going. The statement stressed that a flu vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of the simultaneous outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease and influenza, thereby reducing the possibility of the serious consequences caused by the double infection of the two diseases.
