Hong Kong influenza vaccination to start November

Sep 27 2004

Six groups of people at higher risk of flu complications will make up the first category in the Hong Kong Government's Influenza Vaccination Programme, to be implemented in November and December.

The groups include residents of homes for the elderly and disabled, residents of wards for the mentally ill and handicapped, and hospitalised chronic disease patients.

The second category comprises Hospital Authority and Department of Health staff, to reduce the risk of transmitting flu to patients. The third category is for poultry workers, to minimise the chance of cross-infection of avian and human influenza.

Centre for Health Protection Consultant Dr Thomas Tsang said the programme has been developed in accordance with recommendations of the centre's Scientific Committee on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.

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