Winter influenza continues to wreak havoc in Hong Kong, claiming a total of 95 lives, including two children, and outbreaks occurred in many kindergartens and primary schools. There has been an acute shortage of influenza vaccines in the past month, and private clinics have found it “hard to get a single shot.” A batch of 20,000 doses of quadrivalent influenza vaccine has arrived in Hong Kong starting today (2nd), with a clinic in Sha Tin receiving the first batch of replenishment. Liu Chengzhi, a pediatrician in private practice, said that since January, the number of influenza consultation cases has continued to increase, and parents are also very nervous. This year there has been a "strange" phenomenon, with many mainland parents also taking the initiative to vaccinate their children against influenza. Taking him as an example, one or two mainland children have been vaccinated against influenza every day recently.
Injection of trivalent vaccines in the Mainland is insufficient for protection
This winter influenza is dominated by influenza B virus. Most of the children in Hong Kong who need to be admitted to the intensive care unit due to severe influenza illness have complications from influenza B. The influenza epidemic in the Mainland is also serious. However, because the trivalent vaccine is administered in the Mainland, it cannot protect against one type of influenza B virus. Therefore, there is also a strong demand for the quadrivalent influenza vaccine among the Mainland people.
Influenza rapid test reagents are insufficient
Liu Chengzhi revealed that his clinic also serves mainland children. Recently, in addition to arranging routine childhood vaccinations for their children, mainland parents will "take the initiative to get flu vaccines. I have never tried that (before)." He also said that for example, he handles about 20 cases in half a day, and about 3 or 4 are mainland children. About 1 or 2 mainland parents want to get flu shots every day. Since the vaccine supply is in short supply, he pointed out that only parents who have made reservations before will be given priority for vaccination, otherwise they will only be on the waiting list.
In addition, Liu Chengzhi revealed that rapid influenza test reagents are not enough. The more than ten doses of influenza PCR test reagents earlier have been used up. It is necessary to resort to less accurate antigen tests and prescribe drugs according to clinical symptoms.
He predicted that as the weather continues to be cold, the flu epidemic will continue, but said that because school children will be on vacation during the Lunar New Year, he believes that the outbreak in schools may be alleviated.
Hong Kong parent Mrs. Tang has a 6-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. Seeing the ongoing influenza epidemic, many people in her children’s school have fevers and are taking sick leave, which makes her very worried about the impact on their children. She specifically made an appointment with a doctor a week ago, and she finally arranged for her children to be vaccinated against influenza today
The Hospital Authority has a total of 28,000 vaccines
In addition, a spokesman for the Hospital Authority said today (2nd) that the additional seasonal influenza vaccines ordered earlier by the Department of Health have arrived in Hong Kong. The Hospital Authority has been allocated 15,700 vaccines, which will be distributed to all outpatient clinics under its jurisdiction starting today to replenish the stock. The spokesman said that together with the latest supply of influenza vaccines, the Hospital Authority currently has a total of about 28,000 seasonal influenza vaccines. Outpatient clinics will continue to provide vaccination services to eligible citizens. So far, more than 340,000 citizens have been vaccinated.
吳瑞芬醫生 
劉家輝醫生