The Health Bureau (SSM) announced yesterday that its annual free flu shots for residents will start on Monday.
According to an SSM statement, the vaccinations will cover the 2020-21 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 vaccination campaign is free of charge for children aged at least six months, young people until the age of 18, 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 at least 50.
Children attending crèches and kindergartens, primary and secondary school pupils, 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.
Health Bureau officials will visit kindergartens and primary and secondary schools between October and December to vaccinate pupils, teachers and other staff members there, according to the statement.
The statement pointed out that the city’s crèches have not fully resumed service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that therefore this year the bureau will not carry out collective vaccinations at crèches – i.e. visiting these venues – for the 2020-21 flu season vaccination.
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 serious. 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.
The statement said that those who got a jab between September last year and August this year for the 2019-20 flu season will have to get the new shot, which will cover the upcoming winter and next year’s summer in the northern hemisphere.
A girl gets her flu shot at a disease prevention and control center in Xinle city, Hebei province, in April last year. – Xinhua
