Doctors make jab appeal as flu activity stays high

The Hong Kong Medical Association is urging the public to get vaccinated against seasonal flu as soon as possible, as influenza activity in the city remains high. Council member Raymond Tso, a respiratory medicine specialist, noted an increasing number of cases from late August to early September. Tso emphasized that close community contact at schools could lead to higher infection risks, prompting the association's recommendation for people to receive their vaccination early to avoid serious flu consequences.

Infectious disease specialist Joseph Tsang revealed that over 2.03 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine were given during the 2025-26 season, comparable to the prior year. However, vaccination rates among those aged 50-64 and pregnant women remained relatively low. The association highlighted that it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop after vaccination, advising people to give themselves enough time to become protected. The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach programme is scheduled to commence on Thursday.