A new batch of 85,000 doses of flu vaccine will arrive in Hong Kong before late November, supplying the private medical sector, according to Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee. Private doctors in the city are already grappling with flu vaccine shortages amid an unprecedented demand before the winter influenza season and a predicted fourth Covid wave. Dr Henry Yeung Chiu-fat, president of the city’s Doctors Union said the number of residents seeking flu shots has tripled this year, leading to shortages at many private practices. “People used to go to government outpatient clinics to get the jabs, but people changed to private clinics this year not wanting to go to the public hospitals amid the pandemic,” he added. Chan said the additional vaccines will be distributed to those doctors within the next month.

Source: The Standard November 18, 2020 04:52 UTC