Doctors make jab appeal as flu activity stays high

The Hong Kong Medical Association is urging residents to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu at the earliest opportunity, as influenza activity in the city remains at a high level. Respiratory medicine specialist Raymond Tso, who is also a council member of the association, pointed out that a growing number of cases were reported from late August to early September.

Tso explained that when students gather in school, the chances of influenza infection increase due to their close proximity. He emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated promptly to avoid any serious consequences of flu infections.

Infectious disease specialist Joseph Tsang reported that over 2.03 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine were administered during the 2025-26 season, mirroring the figure from the previous year. Tsang noted a rise in vaccination uptake among children and adolescents; however, coverage among people aged 50 to 64 and pregnant women remained comparatively low.

The association highlighted that it takes approximately two weeks for antibodies to develop following vaccination, and urged individuals to allow sufficient time for protection to take effect.

The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach programme is scheduled to commence on Thursday.