By Vir B. Lumicao
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| ALA Sunga talks to DCG Usudan (back to camera) who had the flu shot at Polo |
Free vaccination against influenza is again being offered by the Hong Kong Health Department to all
Filipinos aged 50 years old and above, at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
The free shots are being made available at Polo for two Sundays, Oct 10 and Oct 17. But at the end of the first Sunday of inoculation, only about 100 people responded to the offer.
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This was despite earnest efforts by Assistant
Labour Attache Angelica Sunga to get more people to take up the offer. She took time to go down to the 2nd
floor lobby of United Centre building to encourage those who were lining up to
get into the lift to go for the free jabs.
“This free flu vaccination is being given today and next Sunday to the Filipino community. It is a seasonal outreach of the Hong Kong government,” said ALA Sunga, a registered nurse who is overseeing the project.
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Five staff members of the department were at the Polo conference room to administer the flu shot, but many of the workers who were around seemed too occupied by other transactions, either at Polo or the Consulate, which is in the same building.
At around 1pm, most of the workers who were at Polo were busy filling up work-related forms, processing their employment contracts or taking up matters with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
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At the Consulate on the other side of the United Centre tower, OFWs who were lining up for the lift said they were not interested when told about the free inoculation. It could also be because they did not qualify for the free jabs because of the age requirement.
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| Only a few people were in queue for the flu shot |
The Health Department has allocated 450 vials of Abbott anti-influenza vaccine for targeted Filipinos who want to get inoculated against the flu, which often afflicts people at the onset, or during winter.
Those who are aged 50 and above, or with underlying illnesses are being encouraged to take the shot as they are more prone to flu. Experts also say that the flu could worsen the symptoms of Covid-19, so vulnerable people should get themselves inoculated against it.
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The annual vaccination outreach for Filipinos has been carried out by the HD in cooperation with Polo for the past several years.
With the lukewarm response from the OFWs, Consulate officers and staff seized the rare opportunity to get themselves jabbed for free.
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Among those who took the flu shots were Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, who came with her teenage daughter and son; and Consul Leo Tito Ausan.
ALA Sunga said qualified Filipinos who want to get vaccinated against the flu under the limited-time offer can still get it at Polo next Sunday.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
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