In light of the continued increase in influenza activity and outbreaks of influenza-like illness (ILI) in schools and residential care homes (RCHs), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 16) urged all persons aged 6 months or above (except those with known contraindications) to receive the seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) as soon as possible to minimise the risk of serious complications and death following infection.
 
Influenza activity continues to rise
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     Hong Kong has entered the summer influenza season, and the influenza activity continues to rise. The CHP's latest surveillance data showed that the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for seasonal influenza viruses during the past week (October 5 to 11) was 12.02 per cent, which is higher than the 9.70 per cent recorded during the preceding week and exceeds the peak of 10.54 per cent during the winter influenza season earlier this year. Influenza A(H3) is the predominant circulating strain, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of all detected viruses, followed by influenza A(H1) at slightly over 10 per cent. Influenza B accounted for the remainder. The influenza admission rate in public hospitals is 0.67 cases per 10 000 population, which is higher than the 0.52 cases recorded during the preceding week. There has also been an increase in outbreaks of ILI in schools and RCHs over the past two weeks. As of yesterday (October 15), 451 outbreaks had been reported in schools since the start of the school year in September. Among them, 43, 244 and 164 cases occurred in kindergartens/child care centres, primary schools and secondary schools respectively. During the same period, nine severe cases and one fatal case of paediatric influenza involving children aged 3 to 17 have been recorded. Eight of them had good past health.
      
     "Summer influenza seasons do not occur every year in Hong Kong. It usually occurred between July and August and lasted for six to 18 weeks. The emergence of a summer influenza season in September is uncommon. Since the public received their SIV over nine months ago, the protective immunity generated by the SIV has relatively waned. Coupled with the fact that the new seasonal influenza vaccines for this season have only recently become available on the market and some people have not yet received this year's SIV, this year's summer influenza outbreak is expected to be relatively severe. Based on the current level of influenza activity and trend analysis, the local influenza activity is expected to remain at a relatively high level over the next few weeks. Furthermore, viruses tend to become more active when the temperature drops towards the end of the year. The winter influenza season in Hong Kong typically occurs between January and March. The current summer influenza season may overlap with the upcoming winter influenza season, which could lead to a higher hospitalisation rate due to influenza infection," the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
 
     "The 2025/26 SIV Programmes offers injectable inactivated influenza vaccines (both trivalent and quadrivalent), recombinant influenza vaccines and live attenuated influenza vaccines. All of them cover both influenza A and B viruses and can effectively prevent seasonal influenza and its complications," he added.
 
2025/26 SIV Programmes
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     To boost SIV rates, enrolment for the SIV School Outreach Programme has started since the beginning of June this year, which was earlier than last year. With the concerted efforts of the Government and various community sectors (including the medical sector and schools), approximately 2 300 schools (99 per cent) are going to arrange SIV school outreach activities. Among these, over 1 330 schools (58 per cent) have scheduled to carry out the outreach activities by the end of this month, and over 2 160 schools (94 per cent) by the end of next month (November), which are respectively higher than last year's 45 per cent and 83 per cent. Currently, about 410 schools have held school outreach activities, with the earliest session taking place on September 29.
      
     "Through the concerted efforts of schools, this season's school outreach activities will generally be completed earlier than last season's. However, given the emergence of this year's summer influenza season, coupled with the recent increase in seasonal influenza activity and the number of school outbreaks, we have urged relevant schools to advance the vaccination outreach services further, where feasible. Following intensive coordination by the CHP, 15 schools (including seven secondary schools, two primary schools and six kindergartens/child care centres) will advance their outreach activities originally scheduled for December this year or January next year to before the end of next month. The CHP will continue to actively liaise with the remaining relevant schools to provide feasible assistance," Dr Tsui said.
      
     Regarding the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS), over 1 800 private doctors have applied to participate so far.
      
     "With the support of private doctors, both the number of participating doctors and vaccination venues increased compared to the same period last season. So far, the number of doses administered under the VSS has increased by approximately 12 per cent, compared to the same period last season, demonstrating the impact of private doctors network on boosting vaccination rates. For the newly launched pilot scheme on vaccine procurement for family doctors, the Government has helped procure an additional 100 000 doses of injectable inactivated influenza vaccines for specified VSS family doctors. These doctors have ordered over 60 000 doses of influenza vaccines so far, indicating a positive response," he added.
 
The sooner one receives seasonal influenza vaccines the better
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     "Influenza can cause serious illnesses among high-risk individuals and even in healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective ways of preventing seasonal influenza and its complications. It can also reduce influenza-related hospitalisation and death due to seasonal influenza. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications. I wish to particularly remind high-risk groups, such as the elderly, children, and adults with underlying illnesses and immunosuppression, to get SIV as soon as possible. Members of the public may also contact their family doctors to arrange for vaccinations," Dr Tsui said.
      
     For more information on the SIV programmes, visit the webpage or call the CHP during office hours at 2125 2125.

Ends/Thursday, October 16, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:48

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