Flu prevention: Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow inspects the implementation of the Government Influenza Vaccination Programme at an Aberdeen elderly home.

About 60,000 elderly people living in more than 770 residential care homes will receive free influenza vaccinations until November 28, followed by mop-up vaccinations until early next year.

Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow visited an elderly home in Aberdeen today to see the implementation of the Government Influenza Vaccination Programme.

"Since 1998 the Government has been providing free vaccinations to all elderly living in residential care homes in Hong Kong under the programme. It has been well received with coverage of over 90% of residents living in elderly homes in 2007," Dr Chow said.

The Department of Health will send Visiting Health Teams to provide on-site vaccinations to residents at 550 elderly homes while free vaccines will be delivered to the remaining 220 homes where vaccinations will be done by in-house nurses.