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HONG KONG: The University of Hong Kong reported yesterday that human swine flu has become the predominant influenza strain in children admitted to Queen Mary Hospital in September, with over 70 percent of them having contracted the disease.

Doctors attending a press conference yesterday, including Chiu Shui-seng, clinical associate professor of the University of Hong Kong's department of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, suggested that to prevent imposing a tremendous burden on public medical services, children aged six months to five years should be given priority in allocation of injections.

The SAR government is still looking for appropriate vaccine manufacturers after the first round of tenders was cancelled weeks ago.

Nonetheless, there has been concern over the safety and efficacy of the swine flu vaccines.

A survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in August showed that only half of Hong Kong medical workers were willing to receive the injection in fear of the possible side effects.

More than 3 million doses of vaccines will be ready in the United States this week, according to the New York Times, yet some scientists have advised against injecting children for H1N1.

Infectious disease expert Kent Holtorf indicated that adjuvants, agents added to the vaccines to boost production of antibodies, can themselves be harmful to health as some of them, such as mercury (thimerosol) and aluminum, are toxic.

He also stated that over-use of flu vaccines can result in genetic changes in the virus, causing it to become a more virulent strain.

Addressing these concerns, Harry Greenberg, senior associate dean for research at Stanford University School of Medicine, said that the technology of using adjuvants has over 50 years of history and that it is an effective means to protect the children.

"It's incredibly safe," he said.

Chiu added that parents should balance the risks and benefits of receiving the injection.

(HK Edition 10/08/2009 page1)