Macao's Health Bureau is to provide 50,000 flu shots to the residents, local media reported Monday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted Koi Kuok Ieng, director of the bureau, as saying that the elderly, infants aged from six to 35 months and health-care workers will be the main beneficiaries.

The number of the shots is believed to be sufficient to meet demand by "the high-risk groups" during the winter season, the health bureau chief told the newspaper.

The official also advised residents who are not covered by the free vaccination scheme to obtain shots from private physicians.

Macao has a population of 503,000.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2006)