Four-month flu season looms but vaccine protection will stretch

Eunice Lam and Mary Ann Benitez

The Department of Health warned of a potential new wave of flu, with the winter season possibly lasting three to four months - but it assured that the seasonal influenza vaccine "may continue to offer protection for the remainder of this season."

Centre for Health Protection controller Edwin Tsui Lok-kin called on people to have flu jabs as soon as possible, saying that there were chances of a potential new wave of cases as Hongkongers return from their Lunar New Year travels.

Tsui said the city recorded 199 adult cases of intensive care unit admissions or deaths due to the flu in January, with over 70 percent suffering from chronic diseases and unvaccinated. "There is also a surge of H1N1 influenza cases in most popular travel destinations, such as the mainland, Japan and South Korea," he said.

He called on residents to get vaccinated soon, as the department estimated the winter flu season may last for three to four months until March.

In response to an inquiry from The Standard, a spokesman for the Department of Health said the center was closely monitoring local and global seasonal influenza activity, circulating virus strains and the effectiveness of influenza vaccines.

"The latest surveillance data showed that influenza A(H1) viruses circulate dominantly in Hong Kong," the department said.

Family doctor Lam Wing-wo said his private clinic had seen double the number of inquiries about influenza vaccination after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Vaccination bookings increased from less than 10 people daily in December to more than 20 per day now, most of whom were aged 18 to 50.

He also said vaccine supply in the city has been sufficient, as pharmaceutical firms had resumed vaccine delivery after the holiday.