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Vaccination Schemes - Persons with High Risk Conditions

Vaccination Schemes - Persons with High Risk Conditions
2023-09-11

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.

To encourage people to receive seasonal influenza vaccination, the Government will provide free or subsidized seasonal influenza vaccination to the following eligible persons: 

The following Hong Kong Residents Available Scheme / Programme Details of Service Provider Government Subsidy / Free
In-patients with high-risk conditions* in hospitals under Hospital Authority Government Vaccination Programme Designated Public Clinics and Hospitals Free
Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges issued by the Social Welfare Department aged below 50 years with high-risk conditions* attending public clinics
Paediatric out-patients with high-risk conditions* or on long-term aspirin therapy
Persons with intellectual disability who are also clients or patients of public clinics or hospitals under Hospital Authority
Persons receiving Disability Allowance who are also clients or patients of public clinics or hospitals under Hospital Authority
Persons receiving standard rate of "100% disabled" or "requiring constant attendance" under CSSA who are also clients or patients of public clinics or hospitals under Hospital Authority

* List of high-risk conditions eligible for receiving free seasonal influenza vaccine under Government Vaccination Programme:

  • Chronic cardiovascular (except hypertension without complication), lung, liver or kidney diseases;
  • Metabolic diseases including diabetes mellitus or obesity (Body Mass Index 30 or above);
  • Immunocompromised states related to weakened immune system due to conditions such as asplenia, HIV/AIDS or cancer/steroid treatment;
  • Chronic neurological conditions that can compromise respiratory functions, the handling of respiratory secretions, increase the risk for aspiration or those who lack the ability to take care of themselves; or
  • Children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years) on long-term aspirin therapy.
In Hong Kong, influenza is usually more common in periods from January to March/April 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.

Enquiry

Programme Management and Vaccination Division
Tel: 2125 2125
Fax: 2713 9576
E-mail: vacs@dh.gov.hk
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-17:30 hours. No service on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday.

Hospital Authority (Government Vaccination Programme)
Hotline: 2300 6555
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 08:45-17:45 hours. No service on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday.