The Hong Kong Medical Association has urged the public to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu as soon as possible, with influenza activity in the city remaining at a high level.

It warned of possible flu outbreaks at schools at the start of the new academic year, increasing the risk of community transmission.

Respiratory medicine specialist Raymond Tso, also a council member of the association, said the city saw an increasing number of cases from late August to early September.

“Always when the school students get together, there will be increased chances of influenza infection because they are getting into a close community,” he said.

“That’s why we advise people to get their vaccination sooner to prevent any serious consequences of flu infections.”

Infectious disease specialist Joseph Tsang said more than 2.03 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine were administered in the 2025-26 season – similar to the previous year.

He said there was a rise in the vaccination uptake among children and adolescents, but the coverage among people aged 50 to 64 and pregnant women remained relatively low.

The association added that it takes around two weeks for antibodies to develop following vaccination, and urged people to allow sufficient time for protection to develop.

The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach programme is set to launch on Thursday,


Edited by Edmond Fong