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Newsroom
10 Sep
2021
Quality HealthCare launches seasonal flu vaccination services - Providing convenient mobile app booking while supporting the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme
[Hong Kong, 9 September 2021] With winter flu season approaching, Quality HealthCare (QHMS) today announces the launch of the 2021/22 quadrivalent influenza vaccination service to support the public to reduce the flu infection risk. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health announced earlier this week that the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) will commence next month. As usual, Quality HealthCare supports the government’s appeal and continues to play our part in the VSS programme by providing vaccination services in our clinics.
As the trusted healthcare partner of the public, flu vaccination services are available in all Quality HealthCare Medical Centres from now on. The public is able to make an appointment via the QHMS mobile app. In order to facilitate early vaccination, QHMS also provides an early bird privilege price of HK$255/shot1 in our eShop. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu virus infection, the members of the public are advised to get vaccinated as soon as possible to ensure proper protection of themselves and their families during the flu season.
In addition, Quality HealthCare has been actively supporting the Government’s VSS programme with our wide network of clinics. This year, eligible persons under VSS can also make an appointment via the QHMS mobile app for flu vaccination starting from next month.
Details of our flu vaccination services:
Quadrivalent Vaccination by muscle injection
Members of the public：
Applicable for aged 13 or above
• HK$255 (early bird price)
Applicable for aged between 6 months and 12 years
• HK$355 (early bird price)
Eligible persons of the VSS programme：
• Free of charge (no co-payment)
Quadrivalent FluMist by nasal spray
Members of the public：
Applicable for aged between 2 and 49
• HK$500
Eligible persons of the VSS programme：
• HK$260 co-payment
(after the deduction of Government subsidy)
1Children aged under 13 need to undergo pre-vaccination consultation at the cost of HK$100.
Things to note about flu vaccination during COVID-19 pandemic
– by Dr. Geoffrey Lau, Medical Director (Western Medicine) of Quality HealthCare
Q：Why do I need to get vaccinated every year?
Dr. Lau：Flu viruses change from year to year, so the natural protection or immunity you develop after catching a particular strain of flu virus does not necessarily protect you against another strain of flu virus. In addition, a vaccine made against one flu virus may not protect you against a different strain. That is why the flu vaccine is updated each year to include current strains of the year. Another reason to get flu vaccination every year is that after you get a flu shot, your immunity to the flu declines over time and may not provide adequate protection after one year.
Q：Can I take flu vaccine together with COVID-19 vaccine?
Dr. Lau：According to the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, it is recommended to separate the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines by at least an interval of 14 days. And you are advised to follow the immunisation schedule of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. 28 days apart for CoronaVac [SinoVac] and 21 days apart for Comirnaty[BioNTech/Pfizer]).
Q：What are the advantages of taking flu vaccine under COVID-19?
Dr. Lau：Co-infection of COVID-19 and flu increases morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the public should consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine to strengthen protection under the COVID-19 pandemic. Flu vaccination has been shown to be able to reduce the severity of illness, the likelihood of hospitalisation, complication rate, and length of hospital stay. It also helps to reduce the risk of cross infection.
Q：If I am experiencing side effects after COVID-19 vaccine, should I take flu shots?
Dr. Lau：It is common and normal to have reactions after vaccination, such as fever, malaise, muscle pain, which means our body immunity is working. You should seek medical advice if you are not feeling well before vaccination, whether with or without fever.
Q：Will the side effect of flu vaccine be intensified by the COVID-19 vaccine?
Dr. Lau：There is no known interaction between the flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines.
Q：If I was advised not to take COVID-19 vaccines, can I take flu vaccines?
Dr. Lau：Those with known contraindications to COVID-19 vaccines may not be suitable for flu vaccines, please seek medical advice before taking flu shots.
– End –
Notes to editor
The Quality HealthCare mobile app is available at App Store and Google Play for flu vaccination booking:
About Quality HealthCare
Quality HealthCare Medical Services Limited (QHMS) became part of international healthcare company, Bupa, in October 2013.
Our operations span diagnostics, primary healthcare and day care specialties. We offer Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnostics & Imaging, Dental, Physiotherapy, Mental Health and Wellness services. With roots tracing back to 1868, we serve the community through a network of over 1,500 provider service points in Hong Kong, including over 100 Quality HealthCare multi-specialty medical centres and other affiliated clinics. We also operate a private nursing agency, Bupa medical centres and dental centres in Hong Kong, as well as the Bupa Quality HealthCare Guangzhou Medical Centre.
In 2020, we recorded over 2.5 million healthcare visits. As one of the largest private healthcare providers in Hong Kong, we endeavour to enhance the quality of our professional services to be the healthcare partner of corporates and members of the public.
