Replies to LegCo questions

LC Urgent Q2: Seasonal influenza vaccines

Following is an urgent question by the Hon Cyd Ho under Rule 24(4) of the Rules of Procedure and a reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (February 4):

Question:

Since the beginning of 2015, influenza has been rampant in Hong Kong, with 122 cases of influenza associated admissions to intensive care units or death in January, in which 64 were fatal. The severity of the epidemic sets to rival that of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003. The Secretary for Food and Health said a few days ago that the vaccine this year had had a lower protection rate, while the vaccine targeting the H3N2 Switzerland influenza strain would be available in sufficient numbers only by March and April this year the earliest. Given the warning by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Chair Professor of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong, that the influenza virus has undergone reassortment, will the Government inform this Council of the immediate measures in place or solutions available to cope with the situation in which the aforesaid newly produced vaccine becomes ineffective due to a new round of reassortment of the virus, so as to ensure that there will be a sufficient supply of effective vaccine for public vaccination at that time?

Reply:

President,

Hong Kong usually experiences two influenza peak seasons every year – one between January and March and the other in July and August. The winter influenza season arrived in late December 2014.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an antigenically drifted H3N2 strain, from A/Texas/50/2012 to A/Switzerland/9715293/2013, has been observed. Locally, over 95% of the circulating H3N2 viruses also belonged to A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 strain. The mismatch of the circulating and vaccine strain of H3N2 may reduce the vaccine effectiveness of protection of vaccine for H3N2 recommended by WHO, but it is expected that the seasonal influenza vaccines would afford a certain degree of cross-protection against different but related strains, and also reduce the likelihood of severe outcomes such as hospitalisations and deaths, particularly for high-risk groups. As such, vaccination remains an important means to prevent influenza. Hence, we still advise the public especially the high-risk groups to consider receiving vaccination as soon as possible although the protection of this year's influenza vaccine is comparatively low.

As regards the vaccine against Switzerland type H3N2 seasonal influenza, our preliminary understanding is that the earliest timing for sizable production is around March to April. The Administration will continue to closely monitor the production situation of these vaccines and examine whether their supply would be available within this influenza season.

Ends/Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:17

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