To reduce the risk of influenza infection, Hong Kong Hospital Authority outpatient clinics will start providing influenza vaccination to a total of 250,000 eligible people from Monday, under the government's influenza vaccination program.

According to a government press release on Sunday, poultry workers and people involved in poultry culling operations, as referred by relevant departments, can also receive flu shots in 23designated outpatient clinics.

Those who will receive the free influenza injection also include pediatric outpatients with chronic diseases or on long-term aspirin therapy and the elderly aged 65 or above with chronic diseases and are being followed up in public clinics.

The number of people who will receive the free injection is 50,000 more than that of last year.

Local medical experts believe that the flu season is usually atits peak between January and March in Hong Kong.

Protection provided by vaccination develops about two weeks after getting a flu shot and may last up to one year. Therefore, the best timing for flu shots is in November and December.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2005)