Vaccinate elderly, HKU microbiologist urges
(05-31 15:12)
Elderly people should receive vaccines for pneumococcus and seasonal flu if there is a widespread outbreak of human swine flu in the community, University of Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung has said.
Speaking on a radio program, Yuen quoted an HKU study last year showing the two vaccines could effectively lower the death rate of elderly people by 26 percent and their hospital stay by 13 percent in the flu season.
The government should also consider introducing a new vaccine for human swine flu if there is a high fatality rate caused by the infection, Yuen added.
But he warned that the government must also explain to patients the possible side effects and the health risks the new vaccine may entail.
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