The Hong Kong government has long advocated the benefits of getting vaccinated, be it for influenza, hepatitis B, or other diseases. Inoculation remains one of the most effective means to guard against serious illness, and is crucial for both patients and the entire health care system. Vaccination allows the human body to develop antibodies against certain diseases, and their development and mass application are supported by strict and rigorous scientific evidence. Vaccines have protected generations of infants and children from diseases like polio and German measles. In Hong Kong recently, an infectious disease expert warned that if people happen to be unfortunately infected with both influenza and Covid-19 at the same time, they could suffer more serious lung damage. Therefore, influenza vaccination is crucial. In this globalised era, it is easy for people to receive information from all over the world, rather than unilaterally accepting government appeals. Therefore, some people think that the side effects of vaccines outweigh their effects. Others may think that medical science is so advanced that they can receive treatment when they are sick, so they refuse vaccination. They point out how a nasal spray influenza vaccine, for example, could cause side effects such as nasal congestion or runny nose, fever and sore throat. Asthma patients may have an increased risk of wheezing. In South Korea, some parents opted not to give their children a flu shot after reports that some people had died after receiving the flu vaccination, even though investigations so far have found no evidence the vaccine was the cause of death. Such fears have spilled over into the Covid-19 vaccination debate as well. There is an anti-vaccination trend in the world. It is believed that the vaccine could have serious side effects, thus negating their benefits, and that healthy people do not need to take the risk to get vaccinated. Official clarifications have so far failed to assuage public fear. Clearly more effort is needed to clarify the rumours and convince the public with facts and figures. Adrian Lam, Tai Koo