Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases issues recommendations on seasonal influenza vaccinations for 2026-27 season

Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases issues recommendations on seasonal influenza vaccinations for 2026-27 season 
     The SCVPD recommended that the priority groups for SIV during the 2026-27 influenza season remain the same as in the previous season (2025-26), including health care workers, persons aged 50 years or above, pregnant women, residents of residential care homes, persons with chronic medical problems, children and adolescents aged 6 months to under 18 years, poultry workers, as well as pig farmers and pig-slaughtering industry personnel.
 
     Regarding vaccine types, the SCVPD recommended that all locally registered trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines can be used during the 2026-27 influenza season, comprising the inactivated influenza vaccine, the live attenuated influenza vaccine (i.e. nasal vaccine) and the recombinant influenza vaccine. Moreover, the composition of the influenza virus strains to be used during the 2026-27 influenza season should align with the WHO’s recommendations for the 2026-27 Northern Hemisphere influenza season.

     Regarding the timing of vaccinations, the SCVPD recommended that the public receive SIV before the onset of the main influenza season. Based on local historical data, influenza activity generally remained at a relatively high level from January to April each year. Another peak of influenza activity also occurred around July or August in some years. Since vaccine manufacturers must wait for the WHO to announce its recommendations on virus strains for the Northern Hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccines in February or March each year before beginning production, the SCVPD considered that October or November is the most optimal time for vaccination. 
     “All members of the public, in particular young children and older adults, should receive SIV annually for personal protection, unless they have known contraindications,” he added. 
     Details of the SCVPD recommendations are available on the CHP websiteIssued at HKT 16:51