Pedestrians, many of them wearing face masks, use a crossing in Central, Hong Kong, on Feb 28. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

In a bid to protect residents ahead of the anticipated peak season, the Hospital Authority will start its seasonal influenza vaccination program from Thursday, beginning with the most vulnerable.

The initiative aims to immunize the population against severe symptoms, including pneumonia, associated with the influenza virus.

Drawing attention to a concerning trend, Ho disclosed that nearly 20 percent of severe influenza cases involve residents who had not received the influenza vaccine

During a media briefing, Ken Ho Ka-Ming, consultant of Family Medicine and General Out-patient Clinics, emphasized the importance of influenza vaccination for all residents aged six months and above, with the exception of people with known contraindications.

READ MORE: HK residents urged to get jabbed against seasonal flu 

He said prompt vaccination is crucial to safeguard public health and prevent the onset of severe conditions.

The vaccination program will be carried out in three phases. Starting from Thursday, the first phase targets high-risk pediatric patients and children requiring long-term aspirin use, as well as over-65s seeking specialized and general medical care.

The second phase, set to begin on Oct 24, will prioritize individuals aged 65 and above for vaccination. From Oct 30, residents working in the poultry farming and slaughtering industry will be eligible to receive the influenza vaccine.

Ho noted that the number of influenza cases has remained persistently high over the past few months, indicating a potential upward trend in the near future.

Drawing attention to a concerning trend, Ho disclosed that nearly 20 percent of severe influenza cases involve residents who had not received the influenza vaccine. 

He stressed that even healthy people can contract and transmit severe influenza, posing a risk to vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems through respiratory droplet transmission.

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Ho further explained that the vaccine takes two to four weeks to generate protective antibodies against the influenza virus. Therefore, early vaccination is essential to ensure adequate coverage during the winter and summer influenza seasons, effectively safeguarding public health.