The Health Bureau (SSM) extends its annual free influenza vaccination programme to all local residents from today.
The bureau made the announcement in a statement yesterday, which said that it has vaccinated over 57,000 high-risk residents since the programme, which covers the 2021-22 northern hemisphere flu season period, started on September 20.
The bureau has ordered 180,000 doses of quadrivalent flu vaccines for the seasonal influenza shots.
The statement noted that only those aged six months or over can be inoculated against influenza.
Yesterday’s statement said that the Health Bureau has decided to extend its annual free flu shots to all residents with the aim of building a stronger immunity barrier in the community and “making good use” of the remaining flu shots.
Residents can make an appointment for a flu shot on https://www.ssm.gov.mo/infrs. The flu vaccinations are available at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, eight public health centres, two public health stations, as well as the private Kiang Wu Hospital, the University Hospital run by the private Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Taipa, and one clinic run by the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (commonly known as Gung Luen) – one of the city’s biggest community associations – located in Rua do Bispo Medeiros (،|*:٨ٹ٪D١ذ٥پ) near Praça do Tap Seac.
Yesterday’s statement reaffirmed that the Health Bureau suggests that those who have not been inoculated against the novel coronavirus receive their COVID-19 jabs first before getting vaccinated against the 2021-22 seasonal flu. The statement also reminded that those who have just received their COVID-19 jabs need to wait two weeks before they can have the influenza shots.
The Health Bureau has reminded residents that those who had their flu jab between September last year and August this year for the 2020-21 flu season will have to get the new shot, which will cover the upcoming winter and next year’s summer in the northern hemisphere.
