Huge outbreak expected for winter's flu season, says medical expert

Patrick Ip Pak-keung, president of the Hong Kong Paediatric Society, on Tuesday expressed concern that huge influenza outbreaks may occur in Hong Kong this winter.  

The medical expert explained that Hongkongers have had little chance of exposing themselves to the virus in recent years, with children staying at home for online classes, as well as citizens having strong anti-epidemic awareness due to Covid.  

There will be an exceedingly high risk of a huge outbreak affecting those who have not encountered the influenza virus before, said Ip.  

He called on the elderly and young children to get flu jabs as soon as possible, adding that it is safe to receive the Covid jabs at the same time.  

Meanwhile, the expert reminded recovered Covid patients to get their jabs on time.  

He said those who contracted Covid will be treated as recovered patients 14 days after they were first infected and could get inoculated one month after the 14-day mark.  

Those who have contracted Covid within 14 days of their vaccination should still be treated as unvaccinated individuals.