Are You Ready for Christmas?

Dr. NGAI Ming, Leon

Resident Medical Officer

As the pandemic continues to stabilise, public life is returning to normal with less stringent social distancing measures.

Mrs. CHAN, a regular patient of mine, came to see me one day with her one-year-old daughter.

“Hello, Dr. NGAI. Today we just come by for some advice today.”

“Very well, and your little girl looks great too!”

“Thanks, Dr. NGAI. Last time it scared me to death when she had a high fever at midnight. And so lucky to see you, thank god for your medicine.”

“You are welcome. Kids do easily get to be infected, because of weak immunity. But they are strong and quick to recovery.”

“By the way, Dr. NGAI, could you give me some advice on flu vaccine? My daughter and I will go to Japan this Christmas, as she has been in Hong Kong since she was born. She is now one year old and plans to get the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Can she receive the flu vaccine at the same time, or later?”

“It is fine to have the flu vaccine and MMR vaccine together as long as they are administered at different sites. Of course, the more vaccines you get, the more complications you may have, such as pain at injection sites and fever after injection. Otherwise you can have these vaccines four weeks apart.”

“I see. Let me talk to her father about this. Better take all jabs at the same time I think.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“How about me, Dr. NGAI? I had my third dose of COVID-19 vaccine early this year. Should I get both the fourth dose and the flu vaccine before Christmas?”

“Sure. It is always better to get prepared before travel. You can get jabs at different sites at the same time. Or wait for 14 days if you experience severe reaction after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.”

“Thank you very much, Dr. NGAI. I hope the pandemic will come to an end very soon…”