About 59,000 residents of more than 700 homes for the elderly will get free flu shots from the Department of Health from November 10 to 29.

Acting Assistant Director of Health Dr KS Ho said senior citizens living in residential care homes should take full advantage of the free flu shots to boost their immunity and protect them against severe flu complications.

Outbreaks are more likely to occur in such enclosed settings and elderly residents, especially those with chronic health problems, have a higher chance of developing complications such as pneumonia.

Flu shots extended to disabled, other seniors at risk

Long-stay residents of residential institutions for the mentally or physically disabled will also have access to free shots, as will seniors who don't live in institutions but who are at a high risk of catching the flu and are having financial difficulty.

Dr Ho stressed that it was also important to strengthen one's body resistance at all times through:

* a balanced diet;

* adequate rest and exercise;

* good personal hygiene;

* good indoor ventilation, and;

* not smoking.

WHO-recommended vaccine combination

The department's staff and nurses from the homes will administer the vaccines. They are are of the kind the World Health Organisation recommends for 2003 for the northern hemisphere.

The viral strain combines A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus, A/Moscow/10/99(H3N2)-like virus and B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus.

The vaccination programme was to be completed by the end of the year to give sufficient time for seniors to build up immunity against the before the usual seasonal peak from January to March.

Flu-shot programmes from 1998 to 2002 had an overall coverage rate of more than 80%, and vaccines have been well tolerated, Dr Ho said.

Clinics, health centres can advise, provide shots

Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients aged 65 or over, or people holding medical waivers from the Hospital Authority or Social Welfare Department may also be eligible for the free vaccination.

They should visit the authority's general outpatient clinics for medical advice on the suitability of vaccination.