香港醫學會呼籲市民接種流感疫苗
臨近冬季流感高峰期，香港醫學會於11月5日召開記者會，呼籲市民接種流感疫苗。醫學會會長蔡堅醫生與一眾醫學會會董、醫學生示範注射流感疫苗，冀鼓勵市民盡快接種，預防流感及新冠病毒的雙重夾擊。
季節性流感疫苗接種計劃已於上月展開，醫學會傳染病顧問委員會聯席主席曾祈殷醫生表示，在新冠病毒疫情下，市民如同時感染新冠病毒和流感，併發症及死亡率均會大大增加。根據英格蘭公眾健康（Public Health England, PHE）的研究，同時感染新冠病毒及流感人士的死亡風險，比只感染新冠病毒的人高出一倍以上[1]，因此接種新冠疫苗和流感疫苗同樣重要。
各國政府就分隔兩種疫苗接種時間指引不同，美國疾病控制及預防中心（CDC）認為可同時接種，澳洲為7天，而本港衛生防護中心則建議相隔14天。醫學會認同相隔14天的做法，可更仔細地監察兩款疫苗的副作用。對此，市民應自行預算時間並預約接種兩款疫苗。
醫學會傳染病顧問委員會聯席主席陳以誠醫生則提醒市民，現時接種疫苗是最有效及最安全的預防流感方法，即使市民外出時戴上口罩亦有可能感染流感病毒，呼籲大眾切勿掉以輕心。他指出不少人誤以為流感病徵輕微，但其嚴重併發症或可導致死亡。根據衞生署數字，18-19年流感季節期間共錄得601宗與流感相關而需入住深切治療部或死亡的個案，當中包括356人死亡。而流感疫苗需時兩週才能有效發揮作用，因此市民應盡快接種。
除接種疫苗外，市民仍須注意個人衞生：觸摸口鼻、眼睛後洗手，並保持室內空氣流通。免疫系統較弱的人士如長者和小童，應盡量避免到人多擠迫的地方，以防受到感染。最後，市民如對注射疫苗有任何疑問，應該先向醫生尋求意見。
醫學會亦收到不少私家醫生反映今年流感疫苗供應緊張，憂慮數量未能應付流感高峰期前的大量需求。對此，醫學會會長蔡堅醫生促請政府應與藥廠保持緊密溝通，以確保供港流感疫苗數量充足。
二零二一年十一月五日
資料來源:
[1] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.18.20189647v1.full.pdf
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5 November 2021
Hong Kong Medical Association urges Citizens to get Influenza Vaccine
Entering the winter influenza season, the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) held a press conference on 5 November to call on the public to get the seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV). The President of the HKMA, Dr. CHOI Kin, along with the HKMA Council Members and fellow medical students, demonstrated SIV vaccination on the spot to encourage the public to get vaccinated to prevent the double attack of influenza and COVID-19.
The seasonal influenza vaccination program was launched last month. Dr. TSANG Kay-yan, the co-chairman of the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) of the HKMA, stated that under the COVID-19 pandemic, if a person were co-infected with the COVID-19 and influenza, complications and the risk of death would increase enormously. According to the analysis from the Public Health England (PHE), the risk of death is more than doubled for people who catch flu on top of coronavirus, compared to coronavirus alone[2]. Therefore, vaccinations for the COVID-19 and influenza would be equally important.
Overseas governments have different guidelines for the interval period of the two vaccinations. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time. Australia suggests having an interval of 7 days, while the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) recommends 14 days apart. The HKMA agreed that the 14-days interval could be used to closely monitor the side effects of the two vaccines. In this regard, citizens should plan ahead and make appointments for both vaccinations accordingly.
Dr. CHAN Yee-shing, another co-chairman of the ACCD, reminded the general public that vaccination was still the best and a safe way for influenza prevention, and a person could still catch seasonal flu even if they wear a mask. Dr. CHAN mentioned that many people mistakenly believed that flu symptoms were mild, but serious complications could lead to death. According to the data provided by the Department of Health, 601 cases of influenza-associated admission to the Intensive Care Unit or death (356 deaths) were recorded during Year 18-19 influenza season. As the SIV takes two weeks to act, the public should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
In addition to vaccination, the public should also stay vigilant in personal hygiene for prevention, such as maintaining good indoor ventilation and washing hands after touching the mouth, nose and eyes. People with weaker immune systems, such as children and the elderly, should avoid crowded public places. Last but not least, the public should consult professional advice from their family doctors on influenza vaccination.
The HKMA also received reports from private doctors regarding the limited supply of SIV this year and worried that the number of vaccines could not cope with the great demand before the winter influenza season. The HKMA President Dr. CHOI Kin urged the Government to maintain close communication with pharmaceutical companies to ensure SIV supply to Hong Kong would be sufficient.
Source:
[2] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.18.20189647v1.full.pdf
編輯備忘：香港醫學會成立於一九二零年，旨在聯繫政府、各公立醫療機構、大學及私人執業的醫務工作者，交流意見，團結一心。醫學會致力將最新的醫療資訊及醫務發展傳遞與會員，提倡會員遵行專業操守，進而服務社會，維護民康。
Notes to editors: The Hong Kong Medical Association, founded in 1920, aims to bring together Hong Kong's government, institutional, university and private medical practitioners for an effective exchange of views and co-ordination of efforts. The foremost objective of the Association is to safeguard and promote public health. The Association speaks collectively for its members and aims to keep its members abreast of medical ethics, issues and advances around the world. In fulfilling these goals, the association hopes to better serve the people of Hong Kong.
查詢 ：袁巧蓮女士 電話 ：2527 8941
網址 ：www.hkma.org 電郵 ：media@hkma.org