2026/27 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Service
Seed Medical provides the 2026/27 seasonal influenza vaccination programme.
This is an inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) administered by injection. Its formulation has been updated in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere influenza season. The vaccine is registered in Hong Kong under registration number HK-68672.
Vaccine availability and the actual vaccination date are subject to vaccine delivery and clinic arrangements. Any changes will be communicated separately.
The 2026/27 influenza season differs from some previous seasons.
According to the World Health Organization and the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong, there has been no evidence of sustained natural circulation of the B/Yamagata influenza virus lineage since 2020. Therefore, the recommended seasonal influenza vaccines for 2026/27 are trivalent vaccines, targeting two influenza A virus strains and one influenza B virus strain.
Recommended Strains for 2026/27 Egg-Based Trivalent Influenza Vaccines
Influenza A (H1N1)
A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virusInfluenza A (H3N2)
A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2)-like virusInfluenza B – Victoria Lineage
B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virusThe above represents the WHO-recommended composition for egg-based influenza vaccines for the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere influenza season.
According to recommendations from the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection, influenza activity in Hong Kong is more commonly elevated from January to April and from July to August.
October to November is generally considered an appropriate period for annual seasonal influenza vaccination.
If you would like to receive the Sanofi 2026/27 Vaxigrip® Trivalent Influenza Vaccine, you may complete your booking in September and arrange vaccination from October onwards, subject to vaccine availability.
Annual seasonal influenza vaccination is generally recommended.
The inactivated influenza vaccine administered by injection may be suitable for individuals aged 6 months or above. Before vaccination, a healthcare professional should assess suitability based on factors including age, health condition, allergy history and the product information of the vaccine.
Groups that may particularly benefit from seasonal influenza vaccination include:
- Children and adolescents
- Adults aged 50 years or above
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic medical conditions
- Healthcare workers
- Residents of residential care homes
Common reactions after receiving an injectable seasonal influenza vaccine are usually mild and temporary. These may include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site.
Some people may also experience systemic reactions such as:
- Fever
- Chills
- General discomfort
- Muscle aches
Serious allergic reactions are uncommon.
If you have previously experienced a severe allergic reaction to an influenza vaccine or any of its components, please inform your healthcare professional before vaccination.
People with only a mild egg allergy can generally receive an appropriate influenza vaccine in a primary care setting. Those with a history of a severe allergic reaction to eggs should be assessed and vaccinated in a healthcare setting equipped to recognise and manage severe allergic reactions.
Q1: Is the 2026/27 influenza vaccine trivalent or quadrivalent?
For the 2026/27 season, Hong Kong recommends the use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines, covering H1N1, H3N2 and B/Victoria influenza virus strains.
As there has been no evidence of sustained natural circulation of the B/Yamagata lineage for several years, inclusion of the corresponding antigen is no longer recommended for this season.
Q2: When will the 2026/27 influenza vaccine be available?
Seed Medical expects to begin arranging vaccinations from October 2026.
The actual vaccination date is subject to vaccine delivery and clinic arrangements.
Q3: How much is the Early Bird offer?
Book on or before 30 September 2026 to enjoy the Early Bird price of:
HK$300 per dose
Regular price: HK$420 per dose
Q4: Does getting the influenza vaccine mean I will definitely not catch influenza?
No. Seasonal influenza vaccination cannot guarantee complete protection against influenza infection.
Vaccine effectiveness may vary depending on factors such as the circulating influenza strains during the season, as well as the recipient’s age and health condition.
However, vaccination remains an important measure for the prevention of influenza and for reducing the risk of influenza-related complications.
Q5: Why do I need an influenza vaccine every year?
Influenza viruses continue to change over time, while vaccine protection may also decrease.
For this reason, the strain composition of seasonal influenza vaccines is regularly updated based on the latest surveillance data.
The Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong recommends annual seasonal influenza vaccination.
Q6: Can pregnant women receive the influenza vaccine?
The Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong includes pregnant women among the priority groups for seasonal influenza vaccination.
The WHO also considers inactivated influenza vaccines suitable for use during different stages of pregnancy.
Pregnant women should nevertheless inform their doctor or healthcare professional about their pregnancy and health condition before vaccination.
