The Health Bureau (SSM) announced yesterday that in response to the recent “significantly increased” number of flu shot appointments, its public health centres or stations will for the time being not provide the jabs without an appointment.
According to an SSM statement, in addition to the 160,000 doses of seasonal influenza vaccine that have already been procured for the 2023-2024 period, the bureau has purchased, in response to growing demand, an additional 10,000 doses. It added that the bureau has “basically” completed the vaccination of high-risk groups, with the total vaccination volume increased by 30 percent compared with the same vaccination period of the previous year.
The statement noted that the vaccination rate in the city’s residential care homes for senior citizens and kindergartens and primary schools stands, respectively, at over 90 and 80 percent, with the total vaccination rates of the groups of children aged under three and senior citizens aged over 65 getting close to 50 percent.
The bureau urged the public to take precautions against the flu and other upper respiratory infectious diseases by getting their COVID-19 booster jabs, apart from getting enough sleep, having a balanced diet, exercising regularly and maintaining good personal hygiene, among others.
Poster courtesy of Department of Public Health of the City of Philadelphia
