GEORGE TOWN: Upon knowing that an influenza (flu) vaccine programme will be held this morning (March 23), Loh Leong Kim headed to the Rifle Range Village Community and Management Council (MPKK) Hall here, to know more about it.

The 74-year-old who resides in Kebun Bunga said that he had never taken a flu shot before, but decided to give it a try.

"I believe there is a need for us to know how to take good care of our health, that's why I went there myself to register for the shot," he told Bernama after receiving his flu vaccine here.

Loh was among the first batch recipients, who was administered with a dosage of Vaxigrip Tetra, a vaccine that helps to protect against influenza.

Another vaccine recipient Ching Chai Lee said she also never had her flu shot before.

"Even though I'm 64 years old, I do not feel any pain when I receive the vaccine," she added.

The flu vaccination programme today was a collaboration between the Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH) and Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee.

Ong told reporters that around 100 senior citizen from the B40 community would benefit from the vaccination programme that does not require them to pay a single sen.

"PAH aims to inoculate a total of 300 B40 elderly from various constituencies by collaborating with several assemblymen in Penang, as well as providing another 200 doses to the hospital's elderly patrons above 60 years old," he said.

He noted that the 500 flu vaccines were donated by Oon Khye Seh Foundation through Prof Dr Tan Maw Pin of University Malaya's Medicine Faculty.

Ong said according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) data published in 2018, 13,913 or 9.88 per cent of the total deaths in Malaysia are related to influenza and pneumonia.

"While we are still waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine, we should also not neglect some other deadly diseases such as the influenza and pneumonia, which pose serious health risks towards elderly above the age of 65," he added.

-- BERNAMA