HONG KONG – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and a number of principal officials on Friday called on the public to get vaccinated early for better protection before the winter influenza season.
They made the call when the CE led the principal officials to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV).
Lee and some of the officials also received the COVID-19 booster jab at the same time.
“It is now the best timing for receiving SIV for effective protection in the coming year against the influenza strains predicted by the World Health Organization in preparation for the impending winter and summer influenza seasons,” he said, urging the public to get vaccinated as early as possible.
READ MORE: Seasonal flu jabs hit record high in HK
Through the concerted efforts of various stakeholders in the community under the government's leadership, 1.87 million doses were administered under various government vaccination programs in the 2023-24 season – a record-high 20 percent increase from the 2022-23 season, the CE pointed out.
“I hope the vaccination rate in this season can reach even greater heights so as to build a more robust protection barrier in society to safeguard citizens' health.”
He stressed that high-risk priority groups should also receive an additional COVID-19 booster six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection, whichever is later, to enhance protection and reduce the risks of serious complications and death.
Secretary for Health Professor Lo Chung-mau, who had earlier received the SIV and COVID-19 vaccination, was also present to show his support.
“Various SIV programs commenced on Sept 26 to provide free or subsidized SIV for eligible people. I urge members of the public to act now and receive the SIV in October,” he said.
This year, special arrangements were made under the SIV school outreach program under which kindergartens and childcare centers can choose both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines and live attenuated influenza vaccines (nasal vaccines) for the same or different outreach vaccination activities, the health chief added.
ALSO READ: Call for heightened vigilance as HK enters winter flu season
“Schools that have yet to join the outreach vaccination program should enroll as soon as possible and do their part to provide the best protection for schoolchildren,” he added.
Additionally, a pilot scheme was rolled out in which the nasal vaccines will be provided for the first time to primary and secondary schools that had indicated earlier this year their preference for arranging this for their students.
To offer greater convenience for receiving the SIV this year, the government specifically designated additional vaccination venues for citizens' selection.
