Hong Kong health official warns unvaccinated children and elderly face higher flu risks

Unvaccinated children and elderly people are four to five times more likely to face serious complications or mortality from flu infections than those who receive vaccinations, a Hong Kong health official has warned, as influenza cases in the city continued to rise.

Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin issued the warning on Saturday as he pointed out that Hong Kong’s influenza infections had been increasing since June.

“Up until last week, the number of flu infections still remained at a high level,” he told a radio programme.

He said the laboratory samples showed 13 per cent of positive cases, up from 12 per cent during the same period last year.

“The rate of seeking medical treatment or being hospitalised in public hospitals due to influenza was 0.83 cases per 10,000 people, significantly higher than 0.27 cases per 10,000 people over the same period last year. Among them, about 80 per cent of cases were caused by influenza A,” he added.

So far this year, he said there were 19 severe cases of influenza among children, including one death. Eight cases involved children aged 5 or younger who were unvaccinated.