SINGAPORE — In the midst of the peak influenza season, some 170 residents in Queenstown received their flu jabs on Sunday (June 9), as part of the estate’s first mass vaccination exercise.

The exercise was held to reach out to “vulnerable groups” such as the elderly and low-income families who are less likely to go for health screenings and vaccinations, said Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency Chia Shi-Lu.

“We’ve done health surveys around Queenstown and found that families who are less advantaged are less likely to come for health talks, even when these programmes are free or heavily subsidised,” said Dr Chia.

“This is an ongoing challenge for us… and so it’s important we take special effort to reach out to them,” he added.

He was referring to a community health study carried out in the Queenstown estate between 2015 and 2016, which found that families who lived in one- to three-bedroom apartments were less likely to go for health screenings related to cancer, diabetes and blood tests.

According to the National Health Surveillance Survey in 2013, only 14 to 20 per cent of Singaporeans above the age of 50 have had an influenza vaccination.

Sunday’s vaccination exercise was organised by the Queenstown Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC), in partnership with Alexandra Hospital.

Singapore typically has two peak influenza periods every year — one around April to June and the other towards the end of the year.

Pointing out that the number of flu cases has been “stubbornly high” over the past few years, Dr Chia, who also chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, said many tend to underestimate the importance of flu vaccinations.

According to the latest statistics by the Ministry of Health published on June 6, some 3,017 patients sought treatment for acute respiratory infections at polyclinics in the last week of May. The figure is close to the 3,023 patients seen in the same period last year.

“Many of us feel that flu is very common and most of us recover very well, but among the vulnerable groups such as the young and elderly, there is a fair risk of complications,” he said.

On Sunday, a roving medical team also went to the homes of needy residents — some of whom are immobile — to administer the flu vaccine jab.

One of them was 66-year-old retiree Chua Teck Ann, who said he only knew about the flu vaccination after being informed by one of the CCC’s members.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing as a flu vaccination before, but after learning about it, I feel like it would be beneficial for me,” said Mr Chua, who is unable to walk long distances after undergoing spinal surgery in May.