Increased flu activity in southern and northern Chinese provinces since September has prompted a surge in influenza vaccinations in the country, in part reflecting a boosted awareness of the complications the virus can cause in the elderly, medical professionals said.

In Beijing, seniors over the age of 60 as well as primary and middle school students qualify for free flu vaccines annually. However, at a community health service center in the Chinese capital, staff reported that residents are more inclined to get the shot even if they need to pay out of pocket.
"What we have noticed this year is the increased number of people opting for self-paid flu vaccinations. According to our statistics, there has been an increase of around 30 percent. We have observed that many elderly people who were previously reluctant to receive the flu vaccine have come forward for vaccination this year," said Zhou Xin, head of the preventive medicine department at the center.
Some residents noted that family members encouraged them to get vaccinated amid the outbreak.
"Both my husband and I are receiving the flu vaccines for the first time. We haven't received it before. We heard that there will be a flu peak in Beijing this November, so our son and daughter-in-law strongly urged us to get vaccinated, just to be on the safe side," said an elderly resident.
"Our child is four years old, and he has received the flu vaccine before. We found that the vaccine is quite effective in providing protection for our child's health during the winter season each year," another resident said.
According to Zhou, the hospital has made it easier for residents to schedule vaccination appointments by implementing an online booking system.
Wang Dayan, director of the Chinese National Influenza Center at the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), explained that two types of flu virus are prevalent in China this year.
"Since September, there has been an increase in flu activity in southern Chinese provinces, primarily dominated by the influenza A virus (H3N2), along with co-circulation of influenza B (Victoria). Starting from October, some northern provinces have also started witnessing an elevation in flu activity, mainly attributed to the H3N2 subtype. At present, the overall flu activity in China remains at a moderate-to-low level but is showing an upward trend," said the medical expert.