The Centre for Health Protection today advised people to receive vaccination for protection as soon as possible given that local seasonal influenza and COVID-19 activities have shown a significant upward trend.
 
The centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan made the appeal and explained that based on the latest surveillance data, the seasonal influenza may enter a peak period next week.
 
As at the week ending December 30, the influenza admission rate in public hospitals was 0.48 cases per 10,000 population, which is higher than the baseline level, while the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses was 8.49, an increase of more than double compared with three weeks ago.
 
“The usual duration of the influenza season in the past varies - maybe eight weeks or 12 weeks, or sometimes longer - so it is difficult to anticipate or predict the exact duration of the influenza season and also the severity,” Dr Chuang said.
 
The overall activity of COVID-19 has also increased significantly, the centre pointed out, noting that the proportion of the JN.1 variant found in sewage samples rose from about 15% to about 26% and specimens from human COVID-19 cases jumped from about 20% to about 60%.
 
It is anticipated that the JN.1 variant will most likely replace XBB as the dominant variant in Hong Kong.
 
The centre called on the public to heighten their vigilance, in particular to receive seasonal influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccines in a timely manner.
 
What’s more, it strongly urged high-risk groups to receive seasonal influenza vaccination and the COVID-19 booster as a matter of urgency, noting that the vaccination rate concerning seniors and children is currently at a low level.