Global return to Hong Kong is still cleared experts: masks order to help fight the flu, call for injections under three years old

Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Hong Kong people are wearing masks, so that there has been no peak winter flu in the past two years.

However, as the world begins to ease entry restrictions, according to the World Health Organization's global fixed-point monitoring of influenza positivity ratios, a "golden cross" has appeared in July this year, that is, the influenza ratio is higher than the new coronary pneumonia virus ratio.

Lam Wai-sun, vice president of the Hong Kong Society of Infectious and Infectious Diseases, said that it is difficult to predict whether the peak season of influenza this winter will recur in Hong Kong, but he agrees that the immune barrier against influenza has dropped significantly. There is a high chance of an outbreak.” Family doctor Lin Yonghe said that this year’s influenza vaccination is more active than last year, and has received more than 100 appointments. It is recommended that citizens who want to travel can get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Currently, the influenza virus in Hong Kong is not active, and the community is still in a state of "clearing". Lin Wei-sun pointed out that during the raging epidemic, classes were suspended from time to time, social contacts were reduced, and masks were ordered. No large number of influenza cases have been reported so far.

Lin Yonghe appealed that citizens in high-risk groups, such as people over 50 years old and children, should continue to wear masks to help prevent contracting the flu.

▼September 26th, the first day of entry quarantine "0+3" implementation▼

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Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the Hong Kong government has implemented a lot of social distancing measures, so that Hong Kong has not experienced the peak of winter flu in the past two years.

However, as social distancing measures are gradually eased, the winter flu may return.

According to the World Health Organization's global fixed-point monitoring of influenza positivity ratios, a "golden cross" occurred in July this year, that is, the influenza ratio was higher than the new coronary pneumonia virus ratio. It is believed that the international community is gradually returning to normal and the lifting of epidemic prevention measures.

According to the World Health Organization's global fixed-point monitoring of influenza positivity ratios, a "golden cross" occurred in July this year, that is, the influenza ratio was higher than the new coronary pneumonia virus ratio.

(Provided by Dr. Ho Pak Leung)

Flu vaccination rates drop amid pandemic

Influenza vaccination numbers have also declined slightly as there has been no winter flu peak in Hong Kong in the past two years.

In the 2021/22 quarter, as of July 1 this year, more than 1.22 million subsidized people had received the influenza vaccine, which is less than the 1.32 million subsidized people who had received the influenza vaccine in the pre-COVID-19 quarter More than 100,000 people.

Among them, the number of children 6 months old to under 6 years old has dropped significantly, down more than 10% compared with the 2019/20 quarter, while the vaccination rate of children 6 years old to under 12 years old and people aged 65 or above has dropped. more than 5%.

Lin Weixun, vice president of the Hong Kong Society of Infectious and Infectious Diseases, said that in the past two years, due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic in Hong Kong, classes have been suspended from time to time and the mask order has prevented the outbreak of influenza in winter.

He also pointed out that it is difficult to predict whether the winter flu peak will recur in Hong Kong, but referring to Australia and New Zealand, both places have taken strict epidemic prevention measures like Hong Kong, and related areas have experienced influenza outbreaks after the "switch". .

If the H3 influenza virus is circulating this year, there is a good chance that there will be an outbreak in Hong Kong

He agrees that there is no flu peak in Hong Kong for two and a half years, and the immune barrier against flu has dropped significantly. "If the H3 influenza virus is circulating this year, there is a high chance of an outbreak." He encouraged the public to get the flu vaccine, and reminded the vaccine to be vaccinated within two days. It can only play its role after a few weeks, and some regions will have a peak flu season earlier, "North America starts its peak period from November to December, so if Hong Kong people want to travel there, it is best to get the injection in October. "

Lin Weixun, vice president of the Hong Kong Society of Infectious and Infectious Diseases, said that in the past two years, due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic in Hong Kong, classes have been suspended from time to time and the mask order has prevented the outbreak of influenza in winter.

(File photo/Photo by Huang Shuhui)

The 2022/23 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine School Outreach and Residential Immunisation Programme will start on September 29, while the Vaccine Subsidy Scheme and the Government Immunisation Programme will start on October 6.

Children under the age of three or who have not been exposed to influenza virus are urged to get injections as soon as possible

Family doctor Lin Yonghe said that although the "Vaccine Subsidy Scheme" has not yet started, the influenza vaccination this year is more active than the previous year. At present, he has received more than 100 appointments, even more than the appointment for the new crown pneumonia vaccine. Hong Kong people book injections because they want to travel.

He suggested that children under the age of three should be vaccinated against influenza as soon as possible, because they are "the generation born after the new crown", and the symptoms of the first influenza infection will be severe, and complications such as encephalitis may occur.

▼On September 25, the airport quarantine hotel diversion station will operate on the last day▼

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