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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Singapore : Vulnerable groups "should get flu jabs"

Via Channel News Asia, excerpt :

" Doctors here have advised those prone to infection -- such as the elderly and children -- to get flu vaccinations, following reports of a bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong.

However, doctors added there is no cause for alarm.

They said the risk of the H5N1 virus making its way to Singapore is relatively low.

Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday raised their bird flu alert to "serious" and culled some 17,000 chickens as a precautionary measure.

Doctors in Singapore said the bird flu would only be brought to Singapore through human carriers, or through migratory birds.

Although migratory birds have not posed a problem in previous instances, doctors advise Singaporeans not to be complacent.

Raffles Hospital's infectious diseases specialist Leong Hoe Nam said: "I would also, in addition, recommend people to go for flu vaccination, especially those who are immuno-compromised, those with chronic illnesses, those who are 60-65 years of age, and young children -- it's about preventing the common influenza."

Dr Leong said there are enough flu jabs in Singapore to meet demand.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) added it has a healthy stockpile of H5N1 vaccine."

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