CHP responds to media enquiries on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach Programme
In response to media inquiries regarding the latest situation of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) School Outreach Programme, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 13) gave the following response:
Over 2.09 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccines were administered under the various SIV programmes in 2024/25, reaching a record high. This successfully reduced severe influenza cases among adults and children by 20 per cent and 60 per cent respectively compared to the influenza seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic. School outbreaks of influenza-like illnesses also plummeted by nearly 90 per cent.
To further boost SIV rates, enrolment for the SIV School Outreach Programme has started since the beginning of June this year, which was earlier than last year. With the concerted efforts of the Government and various community sectors (including the medical sector and schools), approximately 2 300 schools (99 per cent) are going to arrange SIV school outreach activities. Among these, over 1 330 schools (58 per cent) have scheduled to carry out the outreach activities by the end of October, and over 2 140 schools (93 per cent) by the end of November, which are respectively higher than last year's 45 per cent and 83 per cent. Currently, about 300 schools have held school outreach activities, with the earliest session taking place on September 29.
Schools participating in the School Outreach Programme must coordinate with participating medical teams when scheduling school outreach activities, taking into account various objective factors such as the school calendar and staffing. Schools negotiate suitable times with the healthcare teams directly.
In view of this year's summer influenza season, coupled with the recent increase in seasonal influenza activity and the number of school outbreaks, the CHP has contacted the schools, urging them to try to further advance school outreach activities where feasible. The CHP has also contacted the private doctors participating in the SIV School Outreach Programme to seek their support, urging them to provide assistance as far as possible.
Medical teams and relevant schools are planning to advance school outreach activities under the SIV School Outreach Programme, but staffing coordination and appropriate arrangements require time. The CHP will proactively provide feasible assistance to meet the needs of the schools.
Source: AI-found images
FSD and BD conduct joint inspection and enforcement operation against industrial buildings
In response to earlier media reports on fire safety issues in certain industrial buildings, the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Buildings Department (BD) are highly concerned about the situation and conducted a joint inspection and enforcement operation targeting industrial buildings from December 29 to 31, 2025, with a view to ensuring public safety.
An industrial building in Kwun Tong, Photo by Bastille Post
The FSD and the BD inspected a total of nine industrial buildings located in various districts in Kowloon and the New Territories during the joint operation. The fire personnel identified a total of 261 irregularities related to various fire hazards, such as obstruction or locking of means of escape, defective or wedged-open smoke stop doors, as well as fire service installations or equipment (FSIs) that were defective or not in efficient working order. The FSD took immediate enforcement action against the persons concerned.
An industrial building in Kwun Tong, Photo by Bastille Post
Among the cases related to obstruction of means of escape, the FSD instituted three prosecutions and issued 22 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices (FHANs), requiring the persons concerned to abate the fire hazards within a specified period. Should they fail to comply with the requirements of the FHANs within the period, the FSD will institute resolute prosecution. In addition, inspections revealed that some buildings had defective smoke stop doors and FSIs. The FSD will issue FHANs to the persons concerned and continue to take follow-up action.
The Buildings Department (BD), Photo source: reference image
The BD identified 13 subdivided flats suspected of being used illegally for domestic purposes. Further investigations are now under way, and letters have been sent to the relevant owners and occupiers asking them to contact the BD as soon as possible to arrange an inspection of their flats. Otherwise, the BD will consider applying for a court warrant to enter the premises for inspection. If it is confirmed that the flats in question have been used for illegal domestic purposes, the BD will take enforcement action in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance, including ordering the cessation of illegal domestic use and rectify the dangerous situations. The BD also identified in the operation that there was dilapidation in the exit staircases of one of the industrial buildings, but no obvious danger to the overall building structure was noted. The BD has issued a repair order to the owners' corporation for conducting the necessary repair work.
The Fire Services Department (FSD), Photo source: reference image
Apart from inspection and enforcement, the FSD also carried out fire prevention education and publicity at the same time during the operation to enhance fire safety awareness among owners and occupiers of industrial buildings, thereby mitigating fire risk from the source. The BD has also long been promoting building safety and the proper use of buildings through various channels, including distributing themed posters to management offices of industrial buildings for displaying in prominent places to serve as a reminder to owners and occupiers that industrial buildings must not be used illegally for domestic purposes.
