Government Completes Procurement for 2026/27 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes, Enhancing Vaccine Supply Stability and Flexibility

Government actively prepares for Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes and has successfully completed procurement process for vaccines

The Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 5) that the Government has completed the procurement process for the 2026/27 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) Programmes and is actively preparing various vaccination arrangements.

The Department of Health, Photo source: reference image

To enhance the stability of vaccine supplies, the Government has enhanced the procurement procedures this year to introduce different brands and technology platforms of seasonal influenza vaccines that are supplied by different vaccine suppliers. The enhancement aims to diversify supply chain risks, ensure the reliability and sustainability of vaccine supplies, and enhance the flexibility of vaccine use in order to increase the vaccination rate. Meanwhile, to improve the efficiency of logistics management, the Government will continue to adopt the "first-in, first-out" principle to flexibly allocate the delivery of the vaccines according to the delivery schedules of the successful bidders.

All influenza vaccines procured for the SIV Programmes are registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), which meet stringent standards regarding safety, efficacy and quality. Manufacturers of pharmaceutical products must comply with the Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for Medicinal Products, as promulgated by the international organisation Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S).

This year, the Government has procured approximately 1.3 million doses of vaccines for the SIV Programmes. Two licensed wholesale dealers of pharmaceutical products were awarded the contracts for the following four types of vaccines. All of them are trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines recommended by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH. The influenza vaccines components also align with that as recommended by the World Health Organization for the 2026/27 northern hemisphere influenza season:

Technical platform

Pharmaceutical company

Name of vaccine

Registration number

Quantity of procurement

Injectable inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) (note)

Sanofi

(i) Vaxigrip Trivalent Influenza Vaccine

HK-68672

Approximately 660 000 doses

Sinovac

(ii) Anflu Influenza Vaccine

HK-68671

Approximately 530 000 doses

Nasal spray live attenuated influenza vaccine

AstraZeneca

Flumist Trivalent Influenza Intranasal Vaccine

HK-68239

Approximately 60 000 doses

Injectable recombinant influenza vaccine

Sanofi

Flublok Trivalent Influenza Vaccine

HK-68673

Approximately 60 000 doses

Note: Depending on the supply arrangements of the successful bidders, vaccine (i) and vaccine (ii) are expected to arrive in Hong Kong in batches starting in mid-October and late August respectively.

The successful bidders and their bid prices will be published in the Gazette and on relevant websites of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in accordance with established procedures.

In addition, the Government launched the Pilot Scheme on Vaccine Procurement for Family Doctors (Pilot Scheme) in 2025/26, which received a positive response. With the experience gained from the Pilot Scheme, the Government will continue to implement the Pilot Scheme in the 2026/27 and strengthen the related arrangements, including (1) increasing the number of influenza vaccine doses available for procurement by eligible doctors from 100 000 to 300 000 (including Sanofi's IIV and Sinovac's IIV); (2) expanding the eligibility groups to include doctors who participate in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) and at least one other Government-subsidised primary healthcare programme; and (3) streamlining the overall workflow arrangements and simplifying the process for consenting to participate in the VSS. The above measures will help further enhance the stability of the vaccine supply in the private market and encourage eligible members of the public to receive vaccinations.

Receiving SIV is the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risks of hospitalisation and mortality. According to previous local data, the winter influenza season typically occurs from January to March or April. It takes two weeks for the body to develop sufficient antibodies for effective protection after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine. Therefore, members of the public should get vaccinated as early as possible before the winter influenza season arrives. The Government will announce the details of the 2026/27 SIV Programmes (including the SIV School Outreach Programme, Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme and VSS) later.

Seasonal influenza vaccination, Photo source: reference image

DH and NMPA co-organise seminar on "GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training" in Hong Kong again

The Department of Health (DH), in collaboration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Medical Device Evaluation and Inspection (GBA Center) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), today (September 15) co-organised the "GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training" seminar in Hong Kong. The seminar aims to assist the local trade in tapping into the Chinese Mainland market and to further deepen exchanges and co-operation between the two places in medical device regulation and industry development.

This was the second seminar of its kind co-organised by the DH and the GBA Center since last May. The Deputy Director of the GBA Center, Mr Xu Liang, and a number of reviewers travelled to Hong Kong to serve as speakers, sharing updates on the GBA Center's latest work and giving an in-depth briefing on the regulatory framework, registration procedures, key market-entry requirements and major review considerations for medical devices in the Chinese Mainland. The seminar helped the trade to gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends and market access requirements in the Chinese Mainland.

The seminar attracted approximately 300 representatives from the local medical device trade, including manufacturers, traders, research and development (R&D) professionals, and regulatory affairs consultants. The participants noted that the training content was substantive and tailored to the industry's practical needs, helping them gain a thorough understanding of the current regulatory regime and the details of the submission arrangements in the Chinese Mainland.

The DH expresses its gratitude to the NMPA for its support. As the Mainland China is an important global market and R&D hub for medical devices, the DH will continue to organise similar activities to deepen professional exchanges and collaboration. Leveraging Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder", the DH is committed to promoting healthcare innovation and high-quality development of the industry.

At the same time, in line with the nation's strategic initiatives to accelerate the development of "Healthy China" and prioritise health in development, the DH will work toward building "Healthy Hong Kong". Promoting innovation in cross-boundary medical co-operation will not only help Hong Kong integrate into the "Healthy GBA", but will also allow Hong Kong's internationally recognised healthcare system to contribute to elevating national medical standards to the global stage, thereby underscoring Hong Kong's unique advantages and value in integrating into and serving the nation's overall development.

DH and NMPA co-organise seminar on "GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training" in Hong Kong again Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH and NMPA co-organise seminar on "GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training" in Hong Kong again Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH and NMPA co-organise seminar on "GBA Medical Device Regulations and Registration Process Training" in Hong Kong again Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases