Influenza ﹣ FAQ
A. Influenza and seasonal influenza vaccination
1. What is influenza?
Influenza is an acute illness of the respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses. It can be caused by various types of influenza viruses. In Hong Kong, influenza A (H1), influenza A(H3) and influenza B virus are most commonly seen. Influenza occurs in Hong Kong throughout the year, but is usually more common in periods from January to March/April and from July to August. The virus mainly spreads by respiratory droplets. The disease is characterised by fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, headache, muscle aches and general tiredness. It is usually self-limiting with recovery in two to seven days. However, if persons with weakened immunity and elderly persons get infected, it can be a serious illness and may be complicated by bronchitis, pneumonia, encephalopathy, or even death in the most serious cases. Serious infection or complications can also occur in healthy individuals.
2. What is the difference between seasonal and pandemic influenza?
Seasonal influenza refers to the viruses that circulate in the human population and cause widespread illnesses especially during each influenza season. Pandemic influenza occurs rarely, when a new influenza virus emerges which is markedly different from those already circulating in the human population. It causes disease in people and spreads easily between people because they have little or no immunity to it.
3. Why is seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) important?
Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the effective means in preventing influenza and its complications together with reduction in influenza-associated hospitalisation and death.
Given that the SIV offers protection against influenza and its complications, all members of the public, except those with known contraindications, should receive SIV annually for personal protection.
4. If the level of local seasonal influenza activity increases, how can people protect themselves against flu?
If the level of local seasonal influenza activity increases, members of the public, particularly children, the elderly persons and chronic disease patients, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) as early as possible.
In addition, members of the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and note the following:
5. Who should receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
Given that influenza vaccines are safe and effective and severe cases can occur even in healthy persons, all members of the public aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, should receive seasonal influenza vaccine for personal protection.
6. Who should have higher priority for seasonal influenza vaccination?
In the 2024-25 season, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) recommended the following priority groups for seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) in Hong Kong:
* People with chronic medical problems mainly refer to those who have chronic cardiovascular (except hypertension without complication), lung, metabolic or kidney diseases, obesity# (Body Mass Index 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.Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended in view of their increased risk of complications and death associated with influenza infection. Of note, live-attenuated influenza vaccine should not be used in immunocompromised persons.
# Obesity is considered as an independent risk factor for influenza complication and thus people with body mass index of 30 or above are included in the priority groups 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).
7. I do not belong to any recommended priority group for 2024-25 seasonal influenza vaccine. Should I receive 2024-25 seasonal influenza vaccination?
According to estimates from the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza vaccines reduced the risk of influenza illness by 40% to 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating viruses closely matched with the vaccine strains. Given that severe cases do occur in previously healthy persons, all members of the public aged 6 months or above, except those with known contraindications, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) annually for personal protection. Members of the public can consult their family doctors to receive SIV for personal protection.
8. Why should pregnant women receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women for benefits in terms of reduced acute respiratory infection for both mothers and infants, and reduction of cardiopulmonary complications and the associated hospitalisations in pregnant women. The World Health Organization considers inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) to be safe for use at any gestational age of pregnancy and there is no evidence indicating that IIV is teratogenic even when given during the first trimester. Recombinant influenza vaccine is not contraindicated in pregnancy. However, live attenuated influenza vaccine should not be used in pregnant women. Pregnant women should consult a doctor for any queries.
9. Why should residents of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly or Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
Residential care homes are collective living places where communicable diseases can easily spread through close person-to-person contact. The frailty of the residents also aids the spread. The source of infection can be staff, visitors or residents. For residents in RCHE, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for reducing the risk of complications from influenza including hospitalisation, pneumonia and death. For residents in RCHD, their disability hinders them from undertaking adequate hygiene measures in an institutional environment which favours the transmission of influenza. Seasonal influenza vaccination is therefore recommended for reducing influenza related hospitalisation during influenza outbreaks.
10. Why should persons aged 50 or above receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases recommended seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for elderly aged 65 years or above as they pose a higher risk for complications, excess hospital admissions and deaths from influenza.
Persons aged 50 to 64 are also recommended to receive SIV because local influenza epidemiology showed that people aged 50 to 64 years, irrespective of chronic medical problems, were having a higher risk of influenza-related intensive care unit admission and death.
11. Why should healthcare workers (HCWs) receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases recommended HCWs as one of the priority groups to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) to reduce morbidity and reduce absenteeism among the workforce. SIV in healthcare workers can also reduce the risk of transmitting influenza to patients who are at high risk of complications and mortality from influenza.
12. Why should poultry industry workers receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is recommended for poultry workers and persons involved in slaughtering of animals potentially infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus for minimising the risk of re-assortment and eventual emergence of a novel influenza virus with pandemic potential through preventing concomitant infections by the human influenza and avian influenza viruses in humans.
13. Why should pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
Pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel are recommended to receive seasonal influenza vaccination to prevent emergence of new influenza A virus in either human or pig hosts.
14. Why children and adolescents aged 6 months to under 18 years are recommended to receive seasonal influenza vaccination?
Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is recommended for children 6 months to 11 years to reduce influenza-related complications such as excess hospitalisations or deaths. Overseas studies have shown that vaccinating young school children may potentially reduce school absenteeism and influenza transmission in the community.
Taking reference from the latest World Health Organisation recommendation, overseas practice and local experience, SIV continues to be recommended to secondary school students or adolescents 12 to under 18 years of age for the 2024-25 season.
15. What is the recommended composition of the 2024-25 seasonal influenza vaccine?
16. What types of seasonal influenza vaccines are recommended for use in Hong Kong by Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD)?
Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are recommended for use in Hong Kong by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Given B/Yamagata lineage viruses are no longer circulating in the population based on WHO surveillance data, both trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines could be used in the 2024-25 season. Depending on individual brand, IIV is recommended for use among individuals 6 months of age or older, including healthy persons, pregnant women and those with chronic medical problems. RIV is recommended for use in individuals 18 years of age or above. LAIV can be used for individuals 2 to 49 years of age except those who are pregnant, immunocompromised or with other contraindications (please refer to Question 20 for details). The package inserts for individual products should always be referred to when deciding the type of vaccine to be used.
17. What are the differences among inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)?
Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) contains inactivated (killed) viruses. Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) contains haemagglutinin (a surface protein of influenza virus) that is produced by recombinant technology, and does not require egg or influenza virus in the production process. Both IIV and RIV are given by injection. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) contains weakened viruses and is given by intranasal spray.
All these seasonal influenza vaccines (i.e. IIV, RIV and LAIV) are effective, but there are some differences in their indications. Depending on individual brand, IIV is recommended for use among individuals aged 6 months or above, including healthy persons, pregnant women and those with chronic medical problems.
RIV is recommended for use in individuals 18 years of age or above. When available, RIV which may offer improved protection against influenza illness in older adults is preferred for older adults living in residential care homes.
LAIV can be used for individuals 2 to 49 years of age except those who are pregnant, immunocompromised or with other contraindications (please refer to Question 20 for details).
Please consult your doctor for details.
18. Who should not receive inactivated influenza vaccine?
People who have a history of severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component or a previous dose of any influenza vaccine are not suitable to have inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV). Individuals with mild egg allergy who are considering an influenza vaccination can be given IIV in primary care setting. Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to egg should have seasonal influenza vaccine administered by healthcare professionals in appropriate medical facilities with capacity to recognise and manage severe allergic reactions. Influenza vaccine contains ovalbumin (an egg protein), but the vaccine manufacturing process involves repeated purification and the ovalbumin content is very low. Even people who are allergic to eggs are generally safe to receive vaccination. Those with bleeding disorders or on anticoagulants should consult their doctors for advice. If an individual suffers from fever on the day of vaccination, vaccination should be deferred till recovery.
19. Who should not receive recombinant influenza vaccine?
Recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) is recommended for use in individuals 18 years of age or above. People who have a history of hypersensitivity to any vaccine component of the RIV are not suitable to receive the vaccine. RIV contains no egg protein.
Those with bleeding disorders or on anticoagulants should consult their doctors for advice. If an individual suffers from fever on the day of vaccination, vaccination should be deferred until after recovery. Please consult your doctor for details.
20. Who should not receive live attenuated influenza vaccine?
Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is a live vaccine and is generally contraindicated in the following conditions, taking reference from recommendations of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada:
**The UK recommended the use of IIV instead of LAIV for children with increased wheezing and/or needed additional bronchodilator treatment in previous 72 hours. Also, specialist advice should be sought on giving LAIV for children who require regular oral steroid for maintenance of asthma control or who have previously required intensive care for asthmatic attack. Canada recommended that individuals with severe asthma (currently on oral or high-dose inhaled glucocorticosteroids or active wheezing) or those with medically attended wheezing in the 7 days prior to vaccination should not use LAIV.
Individuals with mild egg allergy who are considering an influenza vaccination can be given LAIV in primary care setting. Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to egg should have seasonal influenza vaccine administered by healthcare professionals in appropriate medical facilities with capacity to recognise and manage severe allergic reactions. Influenza vaccine contains ovalbumin (an egg protein), but the vaccine manufacturing process involves repeated purification and the ovalbumin content is very low. Even people who are allergic to eggs are generally safe to receive vaccination. Please consult your doctor for details.
21. My child has asthma. Should he/she avoid influenza vaccination in case it gives him/her an asthmatic attack?
Children suffering from lung diseases such as asthma are recommended to receive inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) because of an increased risk of complications associated with influenza. However, children aged 2 to 4 years who have asthma or who have had a history of wheezing in the past 12 months should NOT receive live attenuated influenza vaccine (Please refer to Question 20 for details).
22. What are the possible side effects following inactivated influenza vaccine administration?
The most common side effects following inactivated influenza vaccine administration include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site. Some recipients may experience fever, chills, muscle pain and tiredness.
Side effects are generally mild and temporary. If you experience persistent fever, severe allergic reactions (e.g. difficulty in breathing, swelling of the lip or tongue, hives, etc.) or other adverse events after receiving vaccination, please consult a doctor immediately.
23. What are the possible side effects following recombinant influenza vaccine administration?
The most common side effects following recombinant influenza vaccine administration include pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. Some recipients may also experience fever, chills, muscle pain and tiredness.
Side effects are generally mild and temporary. If you experience persistent fever, severe allergic reactions (e.g. difficulty in breathing, swelling of the lip or tongue, hives, etc.) or other adverse events after receiving vaccination, please consult a doctor immediately.
24. What are the possible side effects following live attenuated influenza vaccine administration?
The most common side effects following live attenuated influenza vaccine administration are mild nasal congestion or runny nose, low-grade fever and sore throat. The safety in pregnant women has not been established. Children aged below five years with recurrent wheezing or persons of any age with asthma may be at an increased risk of wheezing following administration. As this is a live vaccine, there is potential for transmission of the vaccine viruses to immunocompromised individuals.
Side effects are generally mild and temporary. If you experience persistent fever, severe allergic reactions (e.g. difficulty in breathing, swelling of the lip or tongue, hives, etc.) or other adverse events after receiving vaccination, please consult a doctor immediately.
25. What is Guillain-Barré syndrome? Can seasonal influenza vaccination cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an paralysing illness, usually provoked by a preceding infection, surgery or rarely after immunisation. It is characterised by progressive weakness of all limbs and areflexia. Overseas studies have estimated that the risk of GBS following influenza vaccination to be about one to two GBS cases per million vaccine recipients. Locally, one case of GBS was recorded in the season 2023-24 among persons who had received SIV (within the period of five days and six weeks after seasonal influenza vaccination). In Hong Kong, the number of GBS (all causes) admitted to public hospitals ranged from 33 to 60 cases per year between 2019 and 2023.
26. Can I receive seasonal influenza vaccination if I had history of Guillain-Barré syndrome?
As it is unknown whether seasonal influenza vaccination is causally associated with increased risk of recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), precaution should be taken to ascertain the temporal relationship if there is a history of GBS. Please consult your doctor for advice before receiving vaccination.
27. Does seasonal influenza vaccine cause influenza?
The viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine are killed viruses, therefore cannot cause influenza. The viruses in live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are weakened and cannot cause influenza in immunocompetent individuals. However, LAIV is not recommended for close contacts and caregivers of severely immunosuppressed persons who require a protective environment because of the theoretical risk of transmission of the live attenuated vaccine viruses to the severely immunosuppressed persons and cause disease.
28. Is the seasonal influenza vaccine safe for breastfeeding mothers and their infants?
Yes. Seasonal influenza vaccine is safe for breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Women who receive the influenza vaccination while pregnant or breastfeeding can develop antibodies against influenza that can be passed to their infants through their breast milk and provide some protection against influenza for infants.
29. Do the seasonal influenza vaccines in Hong Kong contain a mercuric compound or aluminum?
The seasonal influenza vaccines currently supplied for use in Hong Kong do not contain mercuric compound (e.g. thiomersal) or aluminum.
B. Vaccine administration
1. Does the seasonal influenza vaccine work right away?
No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. For prevention against influenza, vaccinated individuals should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene practices, balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate rest and no smoking.
2. When should I get vaccinated?
Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection, it is advised to get vaccinated at least two weeks before the arrival of winter influenza season, which usually begin in January in Hong Kong. However, even if seasonal influenza vaccination is not received before the winter influenza season, it can still be received as soon as possible.
3. How much protection does the seasonal influenza vaccine provide?
According to estimates from the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza vaccines reduced the risk of influenza illness by 40% to 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating viruses closely matched with the vaccine strains.
In older adults, protection that inactivated vaccines offer in preventing influenza illness was modest. A review of existing studies suggested that, in this age group, recombinant vaccines may be potentially more effective than standard-dose inactivated vaccines. For live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), overseas studies and clinical experience had generally indicated LAIV provides comparable protection against influenza to that afforded by inactivated influenza vaccine.
4. How long does the protection seasonal influenza vaccine last? Is it necessary to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza every year?
All members of the public except those with known contraindications should receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) once each season, which is expected to offer protection for upcoming winter and summer influenza seasons. For children aged 6 months to under 9 years who have never received any SIV before, two doses of SIV with a minimum interval of 28 days are recommended.
Seasonal influenza vaccination requires annual administration. Evidence on repeated influenza vaccination shows that vaccination in the current and prior season provides better protection than no vaccination or being vaccinated in the prior season only. Furthermore, the circulating seasonal influenza strains may change from time to time and the vaccine composition is updated every year in accordance with the circulating strains to enhance protection.
5. How many doses of seasonal influenza vaccine will children need?
To ensure adequate immunity against seasonal influenza, children aged 6 months to under 9 years who have never received any seasonal influenza vaccination SIV before are recommended to receive 2 doses of SIV with a minimum interval of 28 days in the current season. Children below 9 years of age who have received at least one dose of SIV before are recommended to receive one dose of SIV in the current season. For persons aged 9 years or above, only one dose of SIV is required in each influenza season.
6. If a child under the age of 9 years is getting seasonal influenza vaccination for the first time and requires 2 doses, does the same type of vaccine have to be used for both doses?
No, the first and second doses do not have to be the same type. However, the two doses should be separated by at least 28 days.
7. Can pneumococcal vaccines be given together with seasonal influenza vaccine?
Yes. Pneumococcal vaccine can be given with seasonal influenza vaccine at the same clinic visit, but should be administered with a different syringe and at a different injection site if inactivated influenza vaccine is used.
8. Can seasonal influenza vaccine be given together with Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine?
Yes. Seasonal influenza vaccine can be given with Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at the same clinic visit. For individuals receiving inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), they may be administered on the same day or at any interval with MMR vaccine, and those vaccines should be administered with a different syringe and at a different injection site than that of MMR vaccine. For individuals receiving live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), MMR vaccine should be administered at least 28 days apart.
9. Can my child receive the seasonal influenza vaccination if he / she has received / will receive other immunisation?
Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) can be given at the same time or at any time before or after other inactivated vaccine (e.g. Hepatitis B vaccine) or live vaccine (e.g. Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine). Different vaccines should be given at different injection sites if IIV and other vaccines are given at the same time. For individuals receiving live attenuated influenza vaccine, any other live vaccines should be administered at least 28 days apart.
10. Why do some people who have been vaccinated with seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV) still get influenza / influenza-like illness?
There are several reasons why someone may get influenza / influenza-like illness even after they have been vaccinated. Firstly, because the body takes about 2 weeks to develop antibodies after vaccination. If a person is infected with influenza virus shortly after vaccination, he or she may develop influenza before becoming immune. Secondly, infection of viruses other than influenza virus can also result in illness similar to influenza, so people may falsely think that they had influenza despite being vaccinated. Thirdly, small number of people experience side effects after receiving inactivated influenza vaccine, for example fever and myalgia, which may be confused with influenza virus infection. Lastly, seasonal influenza vaccines (SIV) are unable to provide complete protection against influenza, because vaccine effectiveness depends on factors including the similarity between the virus strains present in the vaccine and those circulating in the community, as well as the characteristics of recipients, for example, age. Even so, all members of the public aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications should receive SIV annually because influenza vaccination is one of the effective means in reducing the risk of influenza and its complications together with reduction in influenza-associated hospitalisation and death.
11. Can COVID-19 vaccine be given together with seasonal influenza vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with seasonal influenza vaccine on the same visit under informed consent for administrative convenience and achieving better coverage.
12. What to do if I feel discomfort after the co-administration of COVID-19 vaccine and seasonal influenza vaccine?
In general, common side effects of both vaccines are usually mild and temporary which include soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site. Some people may experience fever, muscle pain, and fatigue a few hours after vaccination. In most cases, these symptoms would subside within a few days. If symptoms persist, or if allergic reactions (such as hives or facial swelling) or serious side effects occur, you should seek medical advice promptly. For more information on co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccination, please click here.
Source: Centre for Health Protection https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/100764.html
last update：1 Sept 2024
(20240924)
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