Getting influenza vaccination is very important
- Hong Kong has entered influenza season. The latest surveillance data showed that the overall local seasonal influenza activity has continued to increase. As Hong Kong continues to face the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic, influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 virus may both spread at the same time. To protect the healthcare system from being overwhelmed, getting influenza vaccination is therefore important.
- Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons.
- Influenza-associated Hospital Admissions
The influenza-associated admission rate in public hospitals with principal diagnosis of influenza in recent week for persons aged 0-5 years, 6-11 years, were 5.24, 1.53 cases (per 10,000 people in the age group) respectively, higher than that as compared to 2.60, 0.89 cases in the previous week.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (SIV) statistics
Latest update of SIV statistics capture data of persons who received SIV under Government's free or subsidised vaccination programmes, for the age group 6 months to under 6 years old, the coverage rate is only 37.3%.
Given that seasonal influenza vaccines are safe and effective, all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications are recommended to receive influenza vaccine to protect themselves against seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as related hospitalisations and deaths.