Influenza

1. 。About Influenza
2. 。Influenza Vaccine
3. 。FAQ

Influenza is an acute illness of the respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses, the symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, fatigue and headache. However, influenza can be a serious illness to the young children or elders, and may be complicated by bronchitis, chest infection or even death. WHO recommends to use the trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) and also suggests the use of quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) with more comprehensive protection since 2012.

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WHO's Recommendation

It is recommended the following composition of influenza virus for quadrivalent Flu vaccines in northern hemisphere influenza season:

【 2023-2024 】Egg-Based influenza vaccines
Fluarix Tetra - from GSK / VaxigripTetra - from Sanofi / Influvac Tetra - form Abbott / FluMist (for Aged 2-49 years) - from AstraZeneca

1. A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
2. A/Darwin/9/2021(H3N2)-like virus;
3. B/Austria/1359417/2021(B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
4. B/Phuket/3073/2013(B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.

【 2023-2024 】Recombinant influenza vaccines
Flublok (for adult only) - from Sanofi 《 No supply to HK in 2023/24 》

1. A/Wisconsin/67/2022(H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
2. A/Darwin/6/2021(H3N2)-like virus;
3. B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
4. B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.

People who are in the priority groups are generally at increased risk of severe influenza or transmitting influenza to those at high risk. Therefore, they should have higher priority for seasonal influenza vaccination.

In 2023/24, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases recommends the following priority groups for seasonal influenza vaccination in Hong Kong:

1. Pregnant women
2. Residents of Residential Care Homes (such as Residential Care Homes for the Elderly [RCHE] or Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities [RCHD])
3. Persons aged 50 years or above
4. Persons with chronic medical problems*
5. Health care workers (including care workers in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly [RCHEs], Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities [RCHDs] and laboratory personnel handling influenza virus specimens)
6. Children and adolescents aged six months to under 18 years (or aged 18 years or above studying in secondary schools in Hong Kong)
7. Poultry workers
8. Pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel

*People with chronic medical problems mainly refer to those who have chronic cardiovascular (except hypertension without complication), lung, metabolic or kidney diseases, obesity# (BMI 30 or above), who are immunocompromised^, children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years) on long-term aspirin therapy, and those with chronic neurological condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration or those who lack the ability to care for themselves.

# Obesity is considered as an independent risk factor for influenza complication and thus people with BMI 30 or above are included for seasonal influenza vaccination.

^People who are immunocompromised refer to those with a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment).

Members of the public can consult their family doctors to receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection.

Who should not receive influenza vaccination?
Those who are allergic to eggs, neomycin gentamycin or a previous dose of influenza vaccine are not suitable to have the influenza vaccination. Those who suffer frome an acute febrile illness on the day of vaccination are not suitable to have influenza vaccination also.

For details of the subsidy scheme, please visit : https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/46199.html

Source: Centre for Health Protection, WHO
last update : 16 Nov 2023