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 to launch Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children on September 1 to provide free oral health services to all kindergarten students on campus

The Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 24) that a new "Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children (OOHP)" will be launched on September 1. Professional dental teams from service providers designated by the Government will visit kindergartens to provide students with free oral screening and preventive dental care on campus. The DH called on kindergartens and parents across Hong Kong to actively participate in the OOHP, working together to help children nurture good oral hygiene habits from an early age.

Children aged 32 months or older who are studying in participating kindergartens are eligible to receive the service free of charge through the OOHP. Eligible students may receive the service once a year. It is estimated that tens of thousands of children and their parents will benefit from the OOHP.

Designated service providers will send professional dental teams to kindergartens to provide participating students with free outreach oral screenings, oral health risk assessments and fluoride application as appropriate to prevent or control tooth decay. The teams will also provide parents with a report on their child's oral health and individualised oral care advice. Additionally, the professional dental teams will conduct oral health talks for kindergarten teaching staff to help them convey oral care messages to the children more effectively, thereby helping them nurture good daily habits from an early age.

The OOHP is a school-based initiative. Service providers will proactively contact the kindergartens to introduce the programme and arrange dates for outreach services. Parents only need to apply for the OOHP through their child's kindergarten. Parents may inquire directly at their child's kindergarten if they have any questions.

A total of 23 service providers are participating in the OOHP, covering all 18 districts in Hong Kong. The service providers began contacting kindergartens in June to finalise the dates for outreach services in the new school year. As of mid-August, 680 (over 70 per cent) of 949 kindergartens in Hong Kong have participated in the OOHP. Kindergartens interested in participating in the OOHP may contact the DH (email: am3_cds@dh.gov.hk).

Since June 2023, the DH's Brighter Smiles Baby Programme (Baby Programme) has served young children aged 0 to 3. The Baby Programme provides primary oral healthcare services for the prevention of dental diseases in young children and offers education to parents. From April 2025, the Baby Programme has been expanded in phases to include young children aged 0 to 3 using the services of the DH's Maternal and Child Health Centres. The introduction of the OOHP helps bridge the Baby Programme and the School Dental Care Service that covers all local primary school students. Together, these three initiatives provide continuous and seamless oral healthcare support for children all the way from pre-school through the school-age stages, creating a comprehensive safety net for their oral health.

The Government's oral health policies aim to enable all Hong Kong citizens to improve their oral hygiene habits and lifestyles. By adopting the strategies of developing community-wide preventive primary oral healthcare while providing essential dental care services targeting underprivileged groups, the Government strives to help citizens achieve prevention, early identification and timely intervention in tackling dental diseases.

DH to launch Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children on September 1 to provide free oral health services to all kindergarten students on campus Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases