Hong Kong parents urged to vaccinate young children amid rising summer flu cases

Hong Kong parents are being encouraged to vaccinate their young children amid a surge in influenza cases among the city's children. Mike Kwan, a paediatrician from the University of Hong Kong, reported rising hospitalizations due to flu in children, with some experiencing severe fevers lasting several days. Hong Kong is currently in its summer flu season, which typically begins in June and peaks before winter.

Kwan emphasized the importance of vaccinating children against influenza, stating that it offers the best protection against severe illness. The Government Vaccination Programme for the 2026/27 season starts this Thursday, providing free vaccines for high-risk groups, including children aged six months or older, pregnant women, and the elderly.

Currently, the vaccination rate among children aged six months to two years is only 27 percent, significantly lower than the rate among older children. Director of Health Ronald Lam noted that the vaccination rate among this age group is much lower than that of older children. Over half of children aged six months to six years received flu vaccinations during the 2025/26 season, while three-quarters of children aged six to 12 were vaccinated.

Severe paediatric flu cases have been on the rise since June, with the number of flu-related hospitalizations per 10,000 people increasing from 0.27 last year to 0.83 this year. Over 80 percent of current cases are Influenza A (H1), nearly 20 percent are Influenza A (H3), and a few are Influenza B cases. Hong Kong has recorded 19 severe pediatric flu cases this year, with eight involving children under five, five of whom were unvaccinated.

Lam stressed that unvaccinated young children are five times more likely to suffer severe illness from flu compared to those who are vaccinated.