Other countries' human swine flu vaccination programmes have found no unusual adverse effects so far, Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang says, adding scientific studies are inconclusive on the association between Guillain-Barre Syndrome and a flu jab.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Dr Tsang said Hong Kong's first wave of human swine flu will come to an end soon and the centre will assess when the second wave will hit.

Estimating several hundred thousand Hong Kong people may have been infected with the disease and developed antibodies, he said vaccination is the most effective way to protect society from the virus.

In response to reports that swine flu shots may cause paralysis, the controller said those are cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease of uncertain causes. Usually patients have varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in their legs, and occasionally in the arms and upper body.

The exact cause of most Guillain-Barre Syndrome cases is unknown, he said, adding the risk of having the syndrome after receiving a flu vaccine is relatively low.

On the fatal cases in the Netherlands in which children reportedly died after pneumococcal vaccination, Dr Tsang said the vaccines in question carry different batch numbers from those in Hong Kong.

Noting Hong Kong's pneumococcal vaccine is safe, the controller said the vaccination programme will continue.