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Image source,Reuters
Many Hong Kong citizens who did not receive a flu vaccine in the past are hoping to receive it this year, which has doubled the demand for the flu vaccine.
Hong Kong’s new corona pneumonia epidemic continues, and the local area is about to enter the peak of the winter epidemic. People rush to get their flu shots, causing many private clinics to shut down supplies.
Many private medical clinics in Hong Kong have stated in recent weeks that the public has received an overwhelming response to vaccination against influenza. The reserve that was sufficient for a month in the past has been exhausted in a week this year. Some clinics noted that due to quarantine measures related to the new corona pneumonia epidemic, almost no travelers from mainland China made a special trip to Hong Kong to get vaccinated this year, but supplies are still depleted. You can imagine that the audience has responded very warmly.
In the past, the enthusiasm of Hong Kong citizens for influenza vaccination was not very high, according to local government figures, the overall rates of influenza vaccination of citizens and medical staff were only 15% and 27% respectively .
Hong Kong media reported that some citizens who were vaccinated told their doctors that they were concerned that they might be infected with pneumonia and new corona flu at the same time, so they were vaccinated early as a precaution. However, some experts pointed out that based on this winter’s experience in the southern hemisphere, this year’s influenza epidemic is not serious. Preventive measures taken by various countries on new corona pneumonia can also help prevent the spread of influenza.
Image source,Chinese bbc
Some citizens lined up outside a Hong Kong clinic to get their flu shot
“A needle is hard to find”
The Hong Kong government has an official flu vaccination program. More than 870,000 doses of vaccine have been ordered for free injections for eligible individuals. Currently, it is vaccinated for students, citizens over the age of 50 and people who receive life assistance from the government.
However, local schools had suspended classes for many months due to the new corona pneumonia epidemic, and they only slowly recovered in September. Some parents feared that classes would be closed after the epidemic recovered. At that time, they may not be able to vaccinate their children through school channels, so they decided to pay privately in advance. Vaccination on behalf of the clinic.
Yang Chaofa, chairman of the Hong Kong Western Medical Union, said that many citizens who did not receive the flu vaccine in the past hope to receive it this year, and many patients choose to go to private clinics for a flu vaccine, which The demand for the flu vaccine doubles.
The Chinese BBC reporter contacted some private clinics to inquire about the availability of flu vaccines, most of them said they were temporarily out of stock and asked the reporter to contact us later.
Image source,Reuters
The mandatory wearing of Hong Kong masks in public places has been in place for a long time.
Higher global demand
But the flu vaccine shortage is not unique to Hong Kong. The demand for influenza vaccines in many countries around the world has increased this year. Among them, the German government ordered around 26 million doses this year, which is the most in the country in recent years, and the British government plans to vaccinate about 30 million people with flu shots, double the number in the year. past. .
The Secretary General of the World Health Organization, Tan Desai, previously warned that the symptoms of new coronary pneumonia and general flu are very similar, so it may increase the burden on medical institutions in several countries. He also called on the five high-risk groups of pregnant women, people with health problems, the elderly, medical personnel and children to get vaccinated in advance.
Most countries or regions will order vaccines a year in advance to give pharmaceutical companies a clear production volume target. Reuters reported that some pharmaceutical companies may temporarily increase supply to meet the additional demand, but their capacity is limited.
But experts say the flu epidemic may not be as serious as expected. Ann Moen, Director of Infectious Diseases at the World Health Organization, noted that influenza epidemics in southern hemisphere countries just past this winter are not severe, “but increased influenza vaccination may also reduce the number of infected people “.
