Elite schools among 168 refusing to arrange outreach flu jab services

Wallis Wang

A number of elite schools and international schools were among the 168 schools listed by the Department of Health for refusing to arrange vaccine outreach teams to administer seasonal flu jabs to their students.

This came as the department warned that Hong Kong has entered the flu season, reporting a 5.69 percent positive rate among respiratory specimens as of January 4.

More than 1.8 million doses of flu vaccines have been administered to Hongkongers through various vaccination programs as of Sunday - a 5.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year, it said.

The department said the number of schools participating in the health authorities' school outreach program has surged, but 168 schools - comprising 103 kindergartens, 29 primary schools and 36 secondary schools - still refused to arrange the service for their students.

The schools on the department's list included some international schools such as Australian International School Hong Kong, Think International School, DSC International School and Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong.

Some elite schools on the list included Pui Ching Primary School, Diocesan Girls' School, St Paul's Co-educational College and St Stephen's Girls' College.

As Hong Kong entered the influenza season, schools are expected to see a surge in flu outbreaks, health authorities warned, urging parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com