Press Releases
Transcript of SHWF on influenza
Following is a transcript (English portion) of a media session by the Secretary
for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, after his visit to an elderly home
in Aberdeen to inspect the implementation of the Government Influenza
Vaccination Programme today (November 7):
Dr Chow: We are very well aware of the risk of influenza and would like to
stress, particularly the three different types of influenza that a lot of people
get confused. One is the seasonal influenza which hits us every year around the
winter time. The other one is avian influenza which is something that mostly
affects chickens but occasionally can also affect human beings that is now being
reported. The other concern is (influenza) pandemic which is something that we
predict may happen in the future but actually we do not have any evidence that
it is emerging yet.
For Hong Kong, I think we are very much concerned about the seasonal influenza
at this point of time because the peak season is usually from January to March.
We would like to vaccinate all the people at risk who may develop complications
or who have chronic illnesses. That is the reason why we are now vaccinating all
the people who are staying in old age homes and institutions. We predict,
altogether, roughly 60,000 of elderly people will be involved. We also need to
vaccinate those people who take care of them. It is roughly another 15,000.
The Government has prepared altogether 250,000 vaccines. So, it is sufficient
for all eight special groups of people and sectors that are required to be
vaccinated.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Monday, November 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 13:15
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