Annual flu shots recommended for seniors: Chinese expert

"Annual flu shots are recommended for seniors," infectious disease expert Zhang Wenhong said in an interview on Monday.

Whether people need to be vaccinated widely has been debated. Influenza outbreaks occur every year, but the flu vaccination rate has been very low. In the Chinese mainland, the flu vaccination rate was around 5 percent, according to Zhang.

"Although for a long time, medical workers have been urging everyone to get vaccinated, we are not too worried about the endemic flu. We suggest that everyone gets vaccinated as soon as possible, especially for vulnerable groups, including the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases. Once infected, their mortality rate is relatively high, so a boost dose is recommended," Zhang added.