The medical sector is urging children, the elderly, the pregnant and chronically ill patients to get vaccinated against seasonal flu as soon as possible to prevent serious complications such as brain inflammation.

That came in a joint appeal by 15 medical groups, including the Hong Kong Paediatric Society, the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases and the Hong Kong Geriatric Society, along with Legislative Council members David Lam Tzit-yuen and Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan.

They emphasized the "absolute necessity" of vaccinations for high-risk individuals in order to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and even death.

High-risk groups are said to be more susceptible to severe illness, hospitalization, admission to intensive care units and other complications when infected with the flu.

"Children, in particular, have frequent social contacts and engage in group activities at school, which can easily spread respiratory viruses, including influenza," they said. "They can also bring viruses back home, putting high-risk individuals at risk."

One of the severe complications that high-risk individuals may develop is acute necrotizing encephalitis, which is a serious neurological condition resulting from the invasion of the central nervous system by the virus and subsequent inflammation, they warned.

"This condition can lead to symptoms such as seizures, rapid deterioration of consciousness and, in some cases, coma and death. Even if patients are fortunate enough to recover, they may experience extensive multiple organ damage and lifelong neurological deficits, necessitating prolonged treatment and rehabilitation."

The medical professionals stressed the importance of parents and caregivers taking high-risk individuals to get vaccinated against both seasonal flu and Covid-19 as soon as possible to safeguard their health.

These recommendations are particularly timely as they follow the unfortunate death of a four-year-old girl with no known health issues. The girl passed away on April 29 after being infected with influenza A, marking the third death of a child due to seasonal flu within a two-week period.

The girl had been experiencing a fever and sore throat since April 25 and was initially taken to St Paul's Hospital. Due to worsening symptoms, she was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, but unfortunately, her condition did not improve.

Child deaths spark urgent push for flu jabs by experts