The SUN HK : DH assures vaccine supply against seasonal influenza

01 December 2023

Hong Kong’s Department of Health (DH) today announced that the seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV) will be widely available and urged the public to heighten their vigilance against respiratory tract infection by getting themselves vaccinated.

“The Government has been keeping close contact with vaccines suppliers and will continue to endeavor to ensure an adequate supply of vaccine for the vaccination programs,” the DH said.

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“In view of the vaccine usage and public needs, the Government has increased the procurement amount to over 1 million doses for the free vaccination programmes. Relevant vaccine suppliers have also undertaken to ensure a steady supply of vaccines procured by the Government,” it added.

With the DH announcement, a vaccination team giving jabs to Filipinos on Sundays at the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), may soon resume its operations.

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The MWO announced last Nov. 15 that it had cancelled the vaccinations on Nov. 19, 26 and 28 because it ran out of vaccines. It has yet to issue an update.

Among the targets of the DH reminder are those leaving Hong Kong for the Christmas and New Year holidays, who should receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for their own protection.

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“It is important for individuals planning to travel outside Hong Kong, especially high-risk groups, to take proactive measures to ensure their personal protection,”

“Given that it typically takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop, members of the public should prepare ahead and receive SIV at appropriate times prior to the winter influenza peak,” the DH said.

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Its apparent aim is to ensure that Hong Kong residents will not bring the the ailment when they return.

According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH, the latest surveillance data showed local seasonal influenza activity continued to remain low.

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“The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses received by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch and the Hospital Authority was 3.92 per cent which was below the baseline threshold of 9.21 per cent, and the admission rate with the principal diagnosis of influenza in public hospitals was 0.16 per 10 000 population in the week ending November 25,” the DH reported.

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“For the other respiratory pathogens, the percentages of respiratory specimens testing positive for them in the week ending November 25 were comparable with the preceding week. More active respiratory pathogens included Rhinovirus/enterovirus, parainfluenza viruses and adenovirus,” it added.