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Persons with chronic medical problems
Seasonal influenza vaccination is one of the effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications together with reduction in influenza related hospitalisation and death. The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases recommends persons with chronic medical problems as priority group to receive seasonal influenza vaccination every year, as they have a higher risk of suffering from severe influenza.
People with chronic medical problems mainly refer to those who have chronic cardiovascular (except hypertension without complication), lung, metabolic or kidney disease, obesity# (body mass index 30 or above), who are immunocompromised^; children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years) on long-term aspirin therapy; and those with chronic neurological condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk of aspiration or those who lack the ability to care for themselves.
# Obesity is considered as an independent risk factor for influenza complication and thus people with BMI 30 or above are included for seasonal influenza vaccination.
^People who are immunocompromised refer to those with a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV infection/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment).
To encourage persons with chronic medical problems to receive seasonal influenza vaccination, the Government will provide free or subsidized seasonal influenza vaccination to the following eligible persons.
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The following Hong Kong Residents
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Service Provider
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Government subsidy
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In-patients with chronic medical problems under Hospital Authority
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Public Clinics under Government Vaccination Programme
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Free vaccination
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CSSA recipients or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges issued by the Social Welfare Department aged below 65 years with chronic medical problems attending public clinics
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Paediatric out-patients with chronic medical problems or on long-term aspirin
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Persons with intellectual disability as clients of public clinics or hospitals
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Persons receiving Disability Allowance as clients of public clinics or hospitals
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In Hong Kong, influenza is usually more common in periods from January to March and from July to August. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body. Get vaccinated early to ensure protection.
Department of Health 2125 2125
(Operates from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., from Monday to Friday; closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
Hospital Authority (Government Vaccination Programme) 2300 6555
(Operates from 8:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., from Monday to Friday; closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
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