Center for Health Protection Controller of Hong Kong Dr. Thomas Tsang Saturday called on people to maintain vigilance as the city has entered the peak flu season, saying it is difficult to predict when the season will end.
Speaking on a radio talk show on Saturday, Dr. Tsang said the center received 13 new reports of institutional outbreaks of flu- like illness Friday, affecting 86 people. Of the 13 reports, one has been confirmed as a flu outbreak.
Dr. Tsang said the center and the authority launched a flu- vaccination program in November and more than 270,000 vaccines have been given to groups prone to the epidemic. About 20,000 vaccines are still in stock and will be given to other eligible people.
The controller said Hong Kong imported about 1 million flu vaccines each year for the city's entire 7 million population. According to pharmaceutical companies, about 100,000 flu vaccines are still available for private doctors.
When asked whether the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will increase its stock of flu vaccines in the coming year, Dr. Tsang said a decision will be made after the HKSAR consulting with the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Disease, which will make its recommendation in about two months.
Source: Xinhua
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