In a report published on August 31, 2026, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of Hong Kong's Department of Health said the 2026/27 seasonal influenza vaccination programmes were due to commence on September 17. The programmes cover the School Outreach Programme, the Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme and the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, offering free or subsidised shots to eligible groups. The CHP said Hong Kong entered its influenza season in late June, with activity rising from July through mid-August and remaining high. It recorded 11 severe paediatric cases: six patients discharged, one stable, one serious, two critical and one death. Dr Edwin Tsui, the CHP Controller, said the circulating viruses were mainly influenza A (H1), followed by A (H3), with no evidence so far of more severe illness or antiviral resistance.

The CHP reported that 2.03 million doses were administered in 2025/26. Coverage for those aged six months to under 18 reached 64.8 per cent, and for ages 12 to under 18 it was 61.4 per cent. More than 2,300 schools, or 99 per cent, completed outreach activities by the end of December 2025, and nasal spray doses rose from 27,000 to more than 48,000. It said unvaccinated children had about five times the rate of severe complications or death, and unvaccinated care home residents aged 65 or older about four times the rate of severe complications.

Planned measures included eHealth-based electronic consent forms, wider vaccine procurement, and an expanded family doctor procurement pilot, with doses available to eligible doctors rising from 100,000 to 300,000. Booking at designated Maternal and Child Health Centres was set to open at 9am on September 14.