To fill flu vaccine shortage, Hong Kong officials consider doses meant for southern hemisphere
Despite extra 44,000 doses ordered for government scheme, worries continue that demand will not be met
Hong Kong health officials could introduce flu vaccines intended for the southern hemisphere in light of the city’s flu vaccine shortage this year, with private doctors saying they had no more of the immunity-fighting substance for their patients.
The possibility arose after the Department of Health already bought 44,000 extra doses of flu vaccines for a government scheme over the past three weeks. However, the shortage in the private medical sector has yet to be relieved.
The Medical Association on Saturday described the shortage as “acute” and said “many doctors” did not get the vaccines for their patients.
The group blamed the government for “gross underestimation of the need for flu vaccines”.
According to the association, Sanofi Pasteur, one of the vaccines’ suppliers, would deliver 24,000 doses to the city in mid or late March to the private market only. However, each doctor could order no more than 10 doses. The association criticised the plan as “far too little and far too late”.