Swine Flu Vaccine to Reach Hong Kong Months After Cases Peaked

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Bloomberg Swine flu vaccine will reach Hong Kong by the end of the year, about three months after an initial wave of cases peaked, a health official said. Authorities invited offers from companies to supply the shots and are completing the order process, said Thomas Tsang, controller of Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection. The city plans to buy enough doses for about 2 million children, elderly, chronic-disease sufferers and health-care workers, he said. Officials plan to run public service announcements on radio and television to encourage high-risk groups to get the free shot, Tsang said in a telephone interview today. An additional 500,000 doses will be reserved for those outside the target groups for sale at the market rate, he said. Free vaccinations would spur intake, according to a survey of Hong Kong residents that showed demand would wane if fees were incurred. “It’s hard to predict how many people will come forward at this time because it really depends on how they perceive the risks, especially the side effects of the vaccine,” Tsang said. “A couple of countries have already started their vaccination programs and so far the vaccine seems pretty safe and there hasn’t been any very serious adverse reactions noted.” At least 149 people have developed severe complications after catching the new H1N1 influenza strain in Hong Kong and 33 people have died, according to Tsang’s center. In about 75 percent to 80 percent of those cases, patients had an underlying medical condition that made them more vulnerable, he said. The most common risk factors were chronic lung disease, circulatory conditions, smoking and obesity. The number of new cases reported daily peaked in late September and has declined since the start of October, Tsang said. Hong Kong’s flu season is typically in February and March. Cases Abating “The first wave definitely seems to be abating,” Tsang said. “We are very aware that a second wave can hit us anytime. We are dealing with a new virus, so we have to cater for all sorts of possibilities, including that it comes earlier.” Pandemic vaccines have their greatest impact as a preventive strategy when administered before or near the peak incidence of cases in an outbreak, the World Health Organization said in a Sept. 24 statement. A free shot would persuade about 45 percent of residents to be immunized against the pandemic strain, researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong said in a study published in the British Medical Journal today. Acceptance fell to between 15 percent and 36 percent if the cost ranged from less than HK$100 ($13) to more than HK$200, the study showed. The finding was based on a survey of 301 adults interviewed by telephone in early July. To contact the reporter on this story: Jason Gale in Singapore at j.gale@bloomberg.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .