The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (September 8) that the 2025/26 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) Programmes, including the SIV School Outreach Programme, the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme and the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS), will commence on September 25. Eligible high-risk groups can receive a free or subsidised SIV through various vaccination programmes. Getting vaccinated well before the winter influenza season can effectively protect one's health and that of one's family.

Severe influenza cases drop by 20 per cent as vaccination uptake hits record high
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     "Vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective means to prevent severe cases of seasonal influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risks of in-patient admission and mortality due to seasonal influenza. During the previous influenza season (2024/25), severe influenza cases decreased significantly among adults and children by 20 per cent and 60 per cent respectively compared to the influenza seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic. School outbreaks of influenza-like illnesses also plummeted by nearly 90 per cent. We believe this is attributable to higher vaccination rates. Under various SIV Programmes, approximately 2.09 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccines were administered, marking an increase of over 10 per cent compared to the 2023/24 influenza season and setting a new historical high. Additionally, SIV coverage rates have increased across all age groups," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.

     The local winter influenza season usually begins in January, while the summer surge occurs from July to August. Although no summer influenza has been observed so far this year, the latest surveillance data on the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses, and the influenza-related admission rate in public hospitals, has indicated an upward trend in seasonal influenza activity. The CHP will monitor the trend of influenza activity in the next few weeks.

Five new initiatives of SIV programmes
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     "To encourage more residents to receive seasonal influenza vaccines and further increase SIV coverage, the Government will introduce five new initiatives this year to enable public access to seasonal influenza vaccines. These include: expanding the eligible group; further enhancing the SIV School Outreach Programme to cater to students' needs; providing recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) to better protect elderly living in institutions; launching a pilot scheme to procure part of the seasonal influenza vaccine for private doctors to help stabilise the supply of vaccines; and optimising information dissemination," Dr Tsui said.

(1) Expanding eligibility coverage
     In addition to previously eligible groups, all individuals aged 18 to 49 with chronic medical conditions are eligible for free or subsidised influenza vaccinations this year, regardless of financial status. The eligible groups and public locations offering free or subsidised SIV are listed in the annex.

(2) Further enhancing the SIV School Outreach Programme
     In early June, the CHP wrote to all secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens/child care centres in Hong Kong, inviting them to participate in the SIV School Outreach Programme this season. The CHP also highlighted this year's new initiative, i.e. all schools may choose to use the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV (nasal vaccines)) and "hybrid mode", i.e. schools being allowed to choose both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and LAIV for the same or different outreach vaccination activities. Approximately 2 300 schools (99 per cent) have joined the outreach programme. To safeguard students' health, the CHP will publish a list of schools not participating in the programme on its official website to remind parents to promptly arrange for children in those schools to receive vaccinations from family doctors.

(3) Providing RIV for elderly living in institutions
     The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the CHP recommended that RIV be preferred for older adults living in residential care homes in order to provide better protection. In light of this, the CHP has successfully procured RIV this year. Through the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme, all residents of residential care homes for the elderly and residents aged 65 or above in residential care homes for persons with disabilities can receive the vaccine.

(4) Pilot scheme on vaccine procurement for family doctors
     To enhance vaccine supply stability and ensure that eligible high-risk groups can receive SIV through the VSS, the DH has also helped procure an additional 100 000 doses of injectable IIV for Specified VSS Family Doctors this year, in addition to continuing to procure vaccines for itself, the Hospital Authority and relevant institutions. Family doctors who accept this arrangement cannot charge recipients any additional fees, thereby reducing the financial burden on citizens and providing additional incentives for them to receive vaccinations at private clinics.

(5) Optimising information dissemination
     The website providing information on private doctors participating in the VSS will be optimised to allow doctors to update their details in real time. The website's search function will also be enhanced to enable members of the public to search for doctors who offer vaccines without any co-payment, or vaccination venues for different types of seasonal influenza vaccines.

     To help members of the public manage their personal health records and healthcare services more effectively, and facilitate continuity of care provided by healthcare professionals, eligible individuals aged 18 or above must register for eHealth starting this year to receive subsidised or free seasonal influenza vaccines.

Over 1 000 vaccination sites available for public convenience
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     To make vaccinations more accessible, the Government will open all 29 of the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) for all children aged 6 months to under 2 years. Moreover, the 25 District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses and their service outlets under the Primary Healthcare Commission, and 74 general outpatient clinics and 38 public hospitals of the Hospital Authority to provide more choices for the public. For a list of vaccination venues, please refer to the CHP's Vaccination Schemes page. Starting from 9am on September 22, parents of eligible children may book an appointment for their children to receive vaccinations at designated MCHCs via the online booking system.

     Over 1 500 doctors have applied to join the VSS. The Government will provide a subsidy of $260 per dose of vaccination. For the list of VSS doctors, please visit: apps.hcv.gov.hk/Public/en/SPS/Search.

The sooner one receives seasonal influenza vaccines the better
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     The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases recommended that the vaccine combination for the 2025/26 influenza season should align with the latest recommendations from the World Health Organization. The use of various locally registered trivalent and quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccines was recommended, including injectable IIV, LAIV (nasal vaccines) and injectable RIV. For more information, please refer to the Scientific Committee's recommendations.

     Dr Tsui reminded the public that it takes approximately two weeks for the body to develop sufficient antibodies for effective protection after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine. Therefore, for the sake of personal and public health, individuals should get vaccinated as early as possible before the onset of the winter influenza season.

     For more information on the SIV programmes, visit the webpage or call the CHP during office hours at 2125 2125.

Ends/Monday, September 8, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:35

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