Skip to content
HONG KONG THORACIC SOCIETY

JOINT WEBSITE OF THE HONG KONG THORACIC SOCIETY AND THE CHEST DELEGATION HONG KONG AND MACAU

Menu

Vaccination & Prevention

Home > Public Resources > Vaccination & Prevention

Your Shield, Our Community’s Health

A Simple Guide to Seasonal Influenza, Pneumococcal and COVID-19 Vaccination

Why Vaccinate?

How Vaccines Work

Think of a vaccine as a “training session” for your immune system. It safely introduces a harmless part of a germ (or a blueprint of it) so your body can learn to recognise and fight the real disease more quickly in the future.

Key Benefits

  • Protect you: reduces your risk of getting sick, developing severe complications, being hospitalised, or dying.
  • Protect your loved ones: helps protect babies, older adults, and people with weaker immune systems who may not be fully protected.
  • Protect our community: slows the spread of disease and reduces the chance of outbreaks.
Vaccine Safety and Side Effects
  • Vaccines are rigorously tested for safety before approval and are continuously monitored.
  • Common mild side effects include a sore arm, mild fever or tiredness for 1–2 days. This is a normal sign that your body is building protection.
  • Severe reactions are extremely rare. Healthcare providers are trained to manage them.
  • If you have specific health concerns or a history of severe allergies, consult your doctor before vaccination.
Vaccine 1 – Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

A contagious respiratory illness that can be serious and may lead to hospitalisation or death. Because influenza viruses change over time, vaccination is recommended every year.

Who Should Get It?

All persons aged 6 months or above should receive seasonal influenza vaccination every year, unless contraindicated.

Free / Subsidised in Hong Kong for Eligible Groups

  • Persons aged 50 years or above
  • Pregnant women
  • Children and adolescents aged 6 months to under 18 years
  • Persons with chronic illnesses (for example heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes) or physical / intellectual disability
  • Students in schools participating in the School Outreach Programme

Where to Get It?

  • Family doctors enrolled in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (some may charge an extra fee)
  • Maternal and Child Health Centres (for young children)
  • District Health Centres
  • Participating School Outreach Programme / clinics providing regular follow-up for eligible patients
Vaccine 2 – Pneumococcal

Pneumococcal Disease

Caused by bacteria. It can lead to severe infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis, and is especially dangerous for older adults and other high-risk groups.

Who Should Get It?

All persons aged 65 or above are eligible for free or subsidised pneumococcal vaccination in Hong Kong.

Vaccination Schedule

  • Without high-risk conditions: 1 dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV).
  • With high-risk conditions (for example chronic diseases or weakened immunity): 1 dose of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15), followed by 1 dose of 23vPPV one year later.

Cost

  • Subsidy is available at private clinics enrolled under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme; doctors may charge an extra fee.
  • Eligible persons with high-risk conditions or financial hardship may receive vaccination free of charge at designated public clinics.
Vaccine 3 – COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccination remains important in reducing severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.

Latest Recommendations

  • Who can get it? In Hong Kong, eligible persons aged 6 months or above can receive COVID-19 vaccination under the Government Programme.
  • Initial doses: for most persons aged 5 years or above, one dose of mRNA vaccine is sufficient to complete the initial series; however, the schedule may differ for children aged 6 months to 4 years who have not had prior COVID-19 infection, and for people with weakened immunity.
  • Boosters: high-risk priority groups are recommended to receive a booster dose at least 180 days after the last vaccine dose or COVID-19 infection, whichever is later.
  • Pregnant women are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated for their own protection.

Safety and Flexibility

  • COVID-19 vaccine can be given with seasonal influenza vaccine on the same day under informed consent.
  • People with stable chronic illnesses are generally suitable for vaccination, but should seek medical advice if they are unsure.

Note: Recommendations may change. For the latest information, please refer to the Centre for Health Protection website.

Last updated: March 2026