Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council's seasonal influenza vaccination event this morning (November 21):
Reporter: Professor Chan, could you give us an update on how many people have received flu jab this year so far and how are we doing compared to last year? And also, any plan to expand the pilot scheme for primary schools?
Secretary for Food and Health: This year, actually every year, the peak of seasonal influenza is usually from January to March or April. The best prevention method for seasonal influenza is to take the vaccination. The Government has increased the coverage of subsidy. We have the outreach programme to cover primary schools. The Department of Health (DH) has a team going to schools to provide vaccination to the kids. Another extension of the subsidy coverage is for people who are 50 to 64. They are also included in the coverage programme (Vaccination Subsidy Scheme). We appealed to the general public, especially the high-risk groups, such as elderly people, kids, pregnant women and those who have chronic diseases to take seasonal influenza vaccination as soon as possible. As far as the number is concerned, this year so far we have already administered some 590 000 doses of vaccines. Comparing to last year, there is an increase of over 50 per cent. We felt that the awareness of people in Hong Kong has improved. Of course, both the Hospital Authority (HA) and the DH have been doing a lot of promotion. As far as healthcare professional is concerned, every cluster of the HA has been doing a lot of promotional programmes for healthcare professionals to take flu jabs. I understand that there is also an increase in the number of people taking flu jabs this year.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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