Last updated: 2026-09-13

The Centre for Health Protection's programme pages of 31 August 2026 state that the influenza vaccine subsidy for persons aged 50 or above at a private doctor is HK$260 per dose; the pneumococcal programme for the elderly is directed at eligible persons aged 65 or above, with a subsidy of HK$400 per dose for the 23-valent vaccine and HK$800 per dose for the 15-valent vaccine. The subsidy is not the price you pay, and some groups have a separate free route. The Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is suspended; the Centre's pages of 6 September state that services are expected to resume in the fourth quarter of this year, with no exact date announced. Whether to receive a shingles or RSV vaccine as an individual decision is a different question from whether the Government subsidises it. The sections below set out each programme separately by its eligibility rules and the date of the document, and do not decide for any individual which vaccine to receive.

What does each of the five vaccines prevent?

What a vaccine does, whom it suits as an individual, and who qualifies for a government subsidy are three separate levels. Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV all involve respiratory viruses; pneumococcus is a bacterium, and it can cause pneumonia and invasive disease; herpes zoster is commonly called shingles. The five vaccines are not substitutes for one another.

Why keep the types of vaccine apart? Questions 33 to 35 of the Centre for Health Protection's influenza FAQs explain that it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop antibodies, and that the vaccine composition is updated in line with the circulating strains. Question 9 of the pneumococcal FAQs explains that a different "valency" means the vaccine covers a different number of pneumococcal serotypes; it is not a scale of potency from weak to strong.

The policy background also differs. Influenza vaccination is arranged by programme year, while the pneumococcal programme for the elderly runs throughout the year; the Government replaced the 13-valent vaccine with the 15-valent vaccine in August 2024. The shingles and RSV documents discuss personal protection and public subsidy separately; COVID-19 has its own vaccination programme. Each arrangement below is set out according to the documents that have been published.

What exactly are the two government programmes? (Read this first)

For adult vaccines in Hong Kong there are mainly two routes: one is a free jab at a government venue, the other is the Government paying a private doctor and you going to a private clinic. Each route has its own name.

(1) The Government Vaccination Programme. The Centre for Health Protection's "Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) 2026/27" page (31 August 2026) states:

The Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) 2026/27 will commence on 17 September 2026.

Various eligible groups for seasonal influenza vaccination will be covered. The pneumococcal vaccination for the elderly continues throughout the year. For details, please refer to posters below.

(2) The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. The Centre's "Vaccination Subsidy Scheme - Medical Practitioner 2026/27" page (31 August 2026) defines it in its own words:

The Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) is a scheme that provides subsidised seasonal influenza vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination to eligible Hong Kong residents through the participation of private doctors. The Government reimburses subsidy to enrolled doctors for providing vaccinations to eligible persons. On top of the Government's subsidy, enrolled doctors may impose extra charge for the vaccination.

After the subsidy you may still have to top up. In other words, the subsidy level is a deduction, not a price. This scheme covers only two vaccines — seasonal influenza and pneumococcal.

How large is the service? The same page states that the 2026-27 scheme "will commence on 17 September 2026", and that "The Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme for the elderly will continue throughout the year." So the influenza jab has a seasonal start date, while the pneumococcal jab is available all year. The Government press release of 31 August 2026 states the scale:

Furthermore, over 1 200 private doctors have participated in the VSS currently, providing services at over 1 900 service points across all districts in Hong Kong. For the list of VSS doctors, please visit apps.hcv.gov.hk/public/en/SPS/Search .

(3) How does it work administratively? The schemes impose an eHealth registration requirement on adult recipients. Both of the Centre's programme pages print the same line: "Recipients aged 18 or above must register for eHealth." Question 20 of the pneumococcal FAQs page (31 August 2026) puts it more directly:

Elderly must register for eHealth to be eligible for subsidised or free pneumococcal vaccination. They may use "express registration for eHealth" at the vaccination sites.

⚠️ Note also a sentence printed under "Please Note" on the "Vaccination Schemes" overview page (31 August 2026):

The above-mentioned free or subsidised programmes/schemes do not cover all types of vaccines . In addition to the vaccines included in the above programmes/schemes, private doctors may also provide other vaccinations to individuals for protection against certain infectious diseases. These vaccines include chickenpox vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, meningococcal vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine, rotavirus vaccine and combined vaccines, etc. If you are considering vaccination, please consult your doctor.

That list of "other vaccines" names chickenpox, Haemophilus influenzae type b, meningococcal, hepatitis A, rotavirus and combined vaccines. It does not mention herpes zoster, RSV or COVID-19 vaccines — that is what the page itself states, and it supports no conclusion about those three vaccines.

Why is 60 different from 65?

The age at which the Government subsidises, the age for voucher eligibility, and the age for which a vaccine product is indicated are three different things. The programme thresholds of 50 for influenza and 65 for the elderly pneumococcal programme are both counted by year of birth; voucher eligibility runs from the year in which a person reaches 65. The RSV example of 60 below describes only the product indications as stated in the interim consensus of 2025, and is not a uniform age limit for all products today.

  • The influenza vaccine subsidy starts at 50. The Centre's "Vaccination Schemes - Persons Aged 50 Years or Above" page (31 August 2026) states that the Government provides free or subsidised services "To encourage persons aged 50 years or above to receive seasonal influenza vaccination".
  • The general age eligibility for the elderly pneumococcal programme starts at 65. The "Pneumococcal Vaccination" page (31 August 2026) states that it is for "eligible elderly aged 65 years or above".
  • The Elderly Health Care Voucher runs from the year in which a person reaches 65. Question 9 of the voucher-recipient FAQs explains that vouchers are provided for use from 1 January of that year, without waiting for the birthday itself. The voucher scheme's "Eligible Elderly Persons and Annual Voucher Amount" page states that "Elderly persons aged 65 or above and holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card … are eligible to receive and use the vouchers".
  • The community elderly group for free COVID-19 booster doses starts at 65. The high-risk priority groups listed in the press release of 24 February 2026 include "elderly persons aged 65 years or above who are living in the community" and "persons aged 50 to 64 years with underlying comorbidities".
  • The two RSV vaccines described in the interim consensus of January 2025 are indicated for adults aged 60 and above (see below), while the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases' interim consensus of January 2025 singles out elderly persons aged 75 and above or living in residential care homes.

So where does a 62-year-old with no chronic illness stand? On the wording of the documents above: for the influenza jab, already eligible (from 50); not yet at the general age eligibility of the elderly pneumococcal programme (from 65; there is a separate arrangement for free vaccine on clinical grounds); no vouchers yet (from 65); and on COVID-19, one sentence in the press release of 24 February 2026 is very plain:

Those who do not belong to the high-risk priority groups recommended for booster vaccination (such as individuals aged 18 to 49 with chronic illnesses and healthy individuals aged 50 to 64) and would like to receive a booster dose may consult their family doctor about registered COVID-19 vaccines available in the private market, and consider to receive vaccination at their own expense for personal protection.

⚠️ In one sentence: for two of the five vaccines (pneumococcal and COVID-19), a person aged 60 to 64 and a person aged 65 or above stand in different places within the programmes; and voucher eligibility runs from the year in which a person reaches 65, not from the birthday. For the other three — influenza (from 50), the shingles jab and RSV (neither of which appears in the three pages cited in this article: the 2026/27 Government Vaccination Programme, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Vaccination Schemes overview) — the two age bands stand in the same place. This article does not recommend that anyone receive or decline any jab; it sets out only whom each programme states it covers.

How do you get the influenza jab, and how much does the Government give?

Who most needs to know this: anyone aged 50 or above weighing up a private clinic against a public clinic for the influenza jab.

On the age eligibility for generally healthy persons, the free or subsidised influenza routes start at 50 (counted by year of birth). The Centre's "Vaccination Schemes - Persons Aged 50 Years or Above" page (31 August 2026) states:

The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (Scientific Committee) recommends persons aged 50 years or above to receive seasonal influenza vaccination to protect from seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reduce influenza-related hospitalisation and death.

The table on the same page sets out four rows: persons aged 50 or above with chronic illness are "Free" at public clinics during regular follow-up appointments, and receive "Government Subsidy", "HK$260 per dose" at private clinics during regular follow-up appointments; persons aged 50 or above without chronic illness receive "Government Subsidy", "HK$260 per dose" through a family doctor, and are "Free" at "District Health Centres /District Health Centre Expresses". That table lists only the two groups aged 50 or above; eligible persons in other age groups appear on the corresponding age-band pages, and this does not mean the $260 subsidy applies only to elderly persons.

⚠️ Note 1 below the table decides what you actually pay:

1 Applicable for doctors enrolled under Vaccination Subsidy Scheme(VSS). The doctor may impose extra fees, some doctors may not charge extra fees.

How is "chronic illness" defined? Note 2 on the same page lists: chronic cardiovascular disease (except hypertension without complications), lung, liver or kidney diseases; metabolic diseases including diabetes mellitus or obesity (Body Mass Index 30 or above); immunocompromised states; and chronic neurological conditions that can compromise respiratory functions, among other conditions.

When should you get it? The Government press release of 1 April 2026 sets out the Scientific Committee's position:

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.

How many doses were given last year? The press release of 31 August 2026 states: "Over 2.03 million doses of vaccines were administered under the various SIV Programmes in the previous year (2025/26), with overall coverage rates of the target population remaining similar to those of the preceding year."

Pneumococcal vaccine — is it only cheaper from 65?

Who most needs to know this: people who have just turned 65, or who are still a few years short of it.

The general age eligibility for the elderly programme is 65; the same page also sets out an arrangement for free vaccine on clinical grounds. The Centre's "Pneumococcal Vaccination" page (31 August 2026) states that it is for persons aged 65 or above (counted by year of birth):

The Government's Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme will continue throughout the year, providing free or subsidised pneumococcal vaccination for eligible elderly aged 65 years or above. Persons without high risk conditions 3 are eligible to receive one dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV). Persons with high risk conditions 3 are eligible to receive one dose of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15), followed by one dose of 23vPPV one year after.

(In the Traditional Chinese edition of this page, the corresponding sentence prints a duplicated character — 「一年後再後接種」 — which the Traditional Chinese edition of this article reproduces as printed. The official English text quoted above does not carry that duplication.)

The subsidy level is printed on the same page's table, and only on the "private clinics" row: that row applies to all persons aged 65 or above, the service provider is "Private clinics enrolled under Vaccination Subsidy Scheme", and the subsidy cell reads "Government Subsidy", "23vPPV: HK$400 per dose", "PCV15: HK$800 per dose".

⚠️ As with the influenza jab, note 1 attached to that row on the page states "The doctor may impose extra fees, some doctors may not charge extra fees." The $400 and $800 are deductions the Government pays the doctor, not a ceiling on charges.

The free row is a different group and a different service provider. It applies to persons aged 65 or above "with high-risk conditions" or "Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance or holders of valid Certificate for Wavier of Medical Charges issued by the Social Welfare Department", the service provider is "Public clinics", and that cell reads "Free".

⚠️ Note 2 on that page is attached to the "Public clinics" cell — that is, to the free route:

2 Some clinics provide pneumococcal vaccination for existing patients/ clients/ members of the designated public clinics only.

"High risk" has a defined scope, and vaccination records also have to be taken into account. Questions 11 and 20 of the Centre's pneumococcal FAQs list a history of invasive pneumococcal disease, cerebrospinal fluid leakage or cochlear implant, specified chronic diseases, immunocompromised states, and neurological conditions affecting respiratory function or the ability to take care of oneself; hypertension without complication is not within that chronic cardiovascular item, and obesity is defined by a Body Mass Index of 30 or above. Questions 21 and 22 explain that doctors need to refer to the type and timing of previous vaccinations; the general sequence set out above is not an instruction for every elderly person to start afresh.

What if you are not yet 65? The "Remarks" on the same page state: "If you are not in the above-mentioned eligible groups to receive free or subsidised vaccination, you may consult your family doctor and consider vaccination at your own expense for personal protection." The same page also has a sentence about clinical need: "HA clinics/ hospitals or DH clinics may offer free pneumococcal vaccination to clinically indicated existing patients outside the above eligibility groups based on doctor's clinical decision."

Why 15-valent and not 20-valent? Question 10 of the pneumococcal FAQs page (31 August 2026) answers directly:

Among Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) cases of all ages reported from 2023 to April 2026, majority of cases were serotype 3 (40 %).
Compared to PCV13/PCV20, PCV15 induced higher immunogenicity against serotype 3 which may potentially be more effective in preventing IPD caused by serotype 3, although further evidence on clinical effectiveness and impact is still pending.

The 15-valent vaccine replaced the 13-valent one with effect from 5 August 2024. In one and the same paragraph, the press release of 2 August 2024 prints two figures of quite different kinds one after the other:

In 2023/24, the total doses of pneumococcal vaccine (PV) administered under the GVP and the VSS are about 56 200 and 53 700 respectively. Under the two government vaccination programmes, about 684 000 elderly persons aged 65 or above had already received at least one dose of PV, with an overall coverage rate of 41.8 per cent.

⚠️ The first sentence is an annual figure; the second is not. In that year (2023/24) the two programmes administered about 56 200 plus 53 700 doses, roughly 110 000 doses. The figure of 684 000 is a cumulative number of people who have received "at least one dose", and the press release attaches no year to it. The 41.8 per cent is the coverage rate of persons aged 65 or above who have received at least one dose; the press release does not set out the number of elderly persons used as the denominator or the exact cut-off date, so this article does not work the denominator back out for itself.

Does the Government subsidise the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine?

Who most needs to know this: people who have seen private healthcare advertisements for the "shingles jab" and want to know whether the Government will make it cheaper.

The written Legislative Council reply of 20 November 2024 states plainly that the Government Vaccination Programmes do not cover herpes zoster vaccines. What follows cites that policy statement of that date and the later reply of October 2025; the three pages of the 2026/27 Government Vaccination Programme, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Vaccination Schemes overview likewise set out no subsidy arrangement for herpes zoster. That scope does not mean there is no public or private concession or individual clinical arrangement anywhere.

As Herpes Zoster is not a statutorily notifiable infectious disease, the DH does not maintain statistics on the incidence of Herpes Zoster in the local population. Currently, there is no statutory requirement for healthcare providers to upload vaccination record to the Electronic Health Record Sharing System. The Government Vaccination Programmes also do not cover Herpes Zoster vaccines. Therefore, the DH does not maintain local statistics on Herpes Zoster vaccination.

Parts (2) to (4) of the same reply are the passage about the subsidy position. It has to be read whole, because its sentences hang together:

When deliberating relevant issue at the SCVPD in September 2023, the experts considered that locally available Herpes Zoster vaccines were safe and effective. Older adults and adults with immunocompromised conditions may consider receiving Herpes Zoster vaccine in consultation with their doctors to protect themselves against Herpes Zoster and its complications. At the same time, the SCVPD also considered that more local data from a cost-benefit analysis would be required for future consideration on whether to include Herpes Zoster vaccine in the Government Vaccination Programmes. Having regard to the latest relevant recommendations made by the SCVPD, the Government currently has no plan to provide Herpes Zoster vaccines for the members of the public through government programmes or in the form of subsidies (including the Community Care Fund).

⚠️ So the decision "not to subsidise" and the matter of awaiting local cost-benefit data are written together; and the same paragraph leaves room, at the individual level, for vaccination after consulting a doctor. Further on in the same passage, after explaining that District Health Centres and family doctors will provide vaccination information including on the herpes zoster vaccine, the closing sentence is:

Individuals should take responsibility for personal health. While particular preventive measure may be beneficial to personal health, it does not necessarily mean the measure would worth Government funding from a public health or medical policy perspective.

What does the Legislative Council reply of October 2025 say? The written reply on herpes zoster of 22 October 2025 states:

(3) The University of Hong Kong is conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis on the Herpes Zoster vaccine as commissioned by the Health Bureau, with the report expected to be completed by 2026. Upon receiving the report, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH will review the findings. The SCVPD will make local vaccination recommendations on Herpes Zoster vaccine from a public health angle in accordance with scientific evidences, the local epidemiological situation, the latest recommendations of the WHO and overseas experiences, etc.

Even if the SCVPD recommends the Herpes Zoster vaccine for specific high-risk groups in future, the Government will also have to carefully consider various factors, including the overall medical burden of the disease on the community, public acceptability, vaccine availability and procurement situation, and other public health factors. Therefore, it is premature at this stage to speculate on whether the vaccine will be included in the Government's vaccination programme or to discuss the timeline of making such a decision.

In its opening part, the same reply also sets out how vaccines outside the subsidised programmes are handled at the individual level:

For vaccines not included in the Government's subsidised immunisation programmes, individuals can consult their family doctor for professional advice to understand the benefits, risks and need for vaccination. Based on a doctor's assessment of health status, medical history, and other factors, individuals can make informed decisions on whether to proceed with vaccination under informed consent.

The study described in the reply of 22 October 2025 is expected to be completed in 2026. That reply makes no commitment as to when any government subsidy would start; this article does not infer from an expected completion year that a subsidy has been introduced.

What does it cost if you pay yourself? Only the prices printed by two service providers on their own websites are listed:

  • Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong's promotion page prints "HK$5,980 for New Generation Shingles Vaccination", and states "Promotion period: from now to 31 December 2026." The same page states "New generation shingles vaccination fee includes one-time doctor's consultation and two doses of vaccine." ⚠️ This price carries three conditions printed by the page itself: (i) "Discounts of the above offer is provided to self-pay clients only, direct billing is not applicable." — that is, it does not apply where the insurer settles directly with the hospital; (ii) this is a course price, the page stating "Each person should receive two doses, with the second dose to be administered 2 to 6 months after the first shot"; (iii) the page states "Vaccination is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last".
  • The Human Health online store's product pages list the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine at 4,980 for two doses and 2,800 for a single dose, with two further "(Designated Location)" products at 4,800.00 and 2,500.00 respectively. ⚠️ These product pages print no effective date; the above are the listed prices on the website as at 8 September 2026.

⚠️ A separate $5,000 figure comes from a Member's question. The sentence "ordinary medical groups charging no less than HK$5,000" comes from the Member's question in the written Legislative Council question of 8 October 2025; it is not a fee statistic published by a government department.

What about the RSV jab? What does the Government say?

Who most needs to know this: people who have heard of the "respiratory syncytial virus vaccine" and want to know whether the Government has a position.

The Government's position is that it "does not recommend universal RSV vaccination for elderly persons", and the same passage carries conditions. The interim consensus of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases of 17 January 2025 is set out in the Centre for Health Protection's press release of the same day as follows:

(a) Elderly persons
According to data from overseas studies, the RSV vaccines are effective in preventing RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease among elderly persons.
Pending specific recommendations from the WHO and local data from the cost-benefit perspective, the SCVPD does not recommend universal RSV vaccination for elderly persons. Elderly persons (especially those aged 75 years and above or living in residential care homes) may consider receiving an RSV vaccination for personal protection, as an individual decision under informed consent in consultation with their doctors.

⚠️ The Committee's consensus document itself exists only in English (the Chinese press release of the same day states that the Committee's recommendations have been uploaded to the Centre's website in English only). Paragraph 12 of that English document reads:

(b) Pending specific recommendations from the WHO and local data from the cost-benefit perspective, the SCVPD does not currently recommend universal RSV vaccination for elderly persons.

(c) The SCVPD is of the view that elderly persons (especially those aged 75 years and above or living in residential care homes) may receive RSV vaccination for personal protection, as an individual decision under informed consent in consultation with their doctor.

(Those two passages are the original English. In this English edition they are reproduced as published; the Traditional Chinese edition summarises them in Chinese rather than presenting a Chinese quotation, and labels those summaries as that edition's own.)

The registration ages described in the January 2025 document: paragraph 5 of that English document states that two protein-based RSV vaccines have been registered in Hong Kong, one an adjuvanted recombinant protein formulation and one a non-adjuvanted bivalent recombinant protein formulation, and that "Both vaccines are administered as a single dose and indicated for adults aged 60 years and above." The same paragraph then states that the bivalent one carries a further indication for pregnant women (32 to 36 weeks of gestation); this article makes no statement about use in pregnancy.

On safety, paragraph 8 of the same document has to be read as a whole, because those sentences form one set. That paragraph opens: "Clinical trial results showed that both protein-based RSV vaccines are generally well tolerated with acceptable safety profiles." It then turns to serious adverse events: post-licensure data revealed a statistically significant increase in the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in individuals aged 65 and above following vaccination with the adjuvanted protein-based RSV vaccine (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]: 2.46), whereas the risk was elevated but not statistically significant following vaccination with the bivalent protein-based RSV vaccine (IRR: 2.02).

⚠️ The sentence immediately after the IRR figures gives the absolute numbers, and without it the 2.46 cannot be read:

Post-licensure safety data on the two RSV vaccines in the US showed that GBS was more common than the expected background rate, with an estimated rate of less than 10 cases per one million vaccinations.

That is, the post-licensure safety data in the United States showed GBS to be more common than the expected background rate, at an estimated rate of less than 10 cases per one million vaccinations. On 7 January 2025 the US Food and Drug Administration then required a related warning to be added for both vaccines. ⚠️ The denominator is per one million vaccinations, and the source is United States post-licensure data, not Hong Kong data.

The local comparison figures are in paragraph 4 of the same document: the annual cumulative mortality rate of RSV infection among elderly persons aged 65 and above is about 5 per 100,000 population, whereas that for seasonal influenza is about 40 per 100,000 population (that paragraph is based on hospital data).

What does it cost if you pay yourself? This article lists the prices of two products in the Human Health online store: the store lists "RSV respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (single Dose) (VACRSVGSK)" at 2,350.00 and "ABRYSVO® Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine (Single Dose)" at 2,400.00. ⚠️ Neither product page prints an effective date; the above are the listed prices on the website as at 8 September 2026. ⚠️ The RSV price examples in this article cover only those two products in the Human Health online store, and do not represent a market price range or private hospital charges.

⚠️ For both the shingles jab and RSV, personal protection and public subsidy have to be understood separately. Both sides come in two steps: one step leaves room, at the individual level, for a decision to be vaccinated after consulting a doctor; the other ties inclusion in a programme to local cost-benefit data. On the shingles jab, the reply of 20 November 2024 says that "Older adults and adults with immunocompromised conditions may consider receiving Herpes Zoster vaccine in consultation with their doctors", and the same paragraph says that "more local data from a cost-benefit analysis would be required for future consideration on whether to include Herpes Zoster vaccine in the Government Vaccination Programmes". On RSV, the Committee's consensus of 17 January 2025 says that "Pending specific recommendations from the WHO and local data from the cost-benefit perspective, the SCVPD does not recommend universal RSV vaccination for elderly persons", and the same passage says that elderly persons "may consider receiving an RSV vaccination for personal protection, as an individual decision under informed consent in consultation with their doctors".

The real difference between the two is the kind of document and its coverage, not the strength of the position. For the shingles jab there is a sentence in a written reply by the Secretary that states the scope of the programmes directly — "The Government Vaccination Programmes also do not cover Herpes Zoster vaccines" (that sentence is in part (1) of the reply, explaining why there are no vaccination statistics). For RSV, the three pages cited in this article — the 2026/27 Government Vaccination Programme, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Vaccination Schemes overview — do not list it among the free or subsidised programmes; that is a blank within the scope this article covers. In addition, for the shingles jab there is a commissioned cost-effectiveness analysis by the University of Hong Kong, expected to be completed by 2026, whereas the RSV consensus says only "Pending … local data from the cost-benefit perspective" and names no study.

Can you still get a COVID-19 jab now?

The Centre for Health Protection's three Chinese COVID-19 pages (all bearing the page date 6 September 2026) carry the same sentence: vaccination services under the programme are suspended. The "Latest News" section of the "COVID-19 Vaccination Programme" page consists of that one sentence:

Since the LP.8.1 vaccine provided under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has expired, vaccination services under the Programme are temporarily suspended, and are expected to resume in an orderly manner in the fourth quarter of this year.

The English version of the same page carries that same sentence, which is the text quoted above.

The "About the Programme" page and the "How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine are recommended for me?" page carry the same sentence under "Latest Arrangement". The "About the Programme" page also carries a narrower notice: "Note: Vaccination services for individuals aged six months to 11 years were suspended earlier and will resume in an orderly manner in the fourth quarter this year."

The Centre's programme page, its "About the Programme" page, its dosing page and the English programme page all say only that services are expected to resume in the fourth quarter, and give no specific date. Question 9 of the COVID-19 FAQs separately sets out recommended vaccine lineages that may be chosen (see the next section), but the range of lineages that may be used is not the same as products that have been procured or can be booked.

When did the service stop? This is not rumour; it is the Government's own notice. The Government press release of 2 June 2026 states:

Currently, the LP.8.1 vaccine provided under the Programme for children and adults will expire in mid-July and early September this year respectively. Existing vaccination services will continue until the following dates:

* Individuals aged 6 months to 11 years: Vaccination services will be available until July 10, 2026.
* Individuals aged 12 or above: Vaccination services will be available until September 5, 2026.

The same press release sets out the transitional arrangement: "The shelf life of the vaccines provided under the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is going to expire. A new batch of vaccines will arrive in Hong Kong successively in the fourth quarter of 2026. During this transition period, eligible individuals will not be able to receive free COVID-19 vaccines through the Programme for a short period," and "Vaccination services under the Programme will resume in an orderly manner in the fourth quarter this year. Details will be announced in due course".

5 September was the announced end date for the service for people aged 12 or above. The source is the Government press release of 2 June; the Centre's programme page of 6 September then states that services are now suspended.

Who are the priority groups? The press release of 24 February 2026 states that from 1 March 2026 the Government would provide the LP.8.1 vaccine to eligible persons aged 12 or above, replacing the JN.1 vaccine, and lists five high-risk priority groups:

residents of residential care homes for the elderly;
elderly persons aged 65 years or above who are living in the community;
persons aged 50 to 64 years with underlying comorbidities;
persons with immunocompromising conditions aged six months or above; and
pregnant women.

⚠️ The sentence immediately after that list cannot be left out:

In addition, the JSC encouraged healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for their personal protection. Hence, the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will continue to provide free COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare workers.

By the press release of 2 June 2026, the same list is written as six items: "residents of residential care homes for the elderly; elderly persons aged 65 years or above who are living in the community; persons aged 50 to 64 years with underlying comorbidities; persons with immunocompromising conditions aged 6 months or above; pregnant women; and healthcare workers". Between the two press releases, the two thresholds relating to older people are unchanged: elderly persons aged 65 or above living in the community, and persons aged 50 to 64 with underlying comorbidities.

The press release of 24 February 2026 states the charging arrangement: "Under the current Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, individuals aged six months or above are eligible for free initial vaccine doses. Priority groups can receive booster doses for free at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously."

⚠️ The above is the arrangement before the suspension; the Centre's three pages of 6 September 2026 state that vaccination services under the programme are now suspended. This article does not claim that a COVID-19 jab can be had under the government programme today.

Does a COVID-19 vaccination recommendation mean supply is available now?

A recommendation and actual supply under the government programme are two different things. The Centre's programme page of 6 September 2026 states plainly that vaccination services are suspended and are expected to resume in the fourth quarter; question 3 of the COVID-19 FAQs of the same day likewise states that the Government is procuring the next batch of vaccine.

A range of lineages that may be chosen is not the same as a product that has been procured. Question 9 of the same FAQs sets out the Joint Scientific Committee's recommendation of LP.8.1, XFG or NB.1.8.1 as the potential vaccine choices for 2026-27, but no actual supply product or exact resumption date has been announced. This article does not write a list of options as a supply commitment.

Can vouchers be used to pay for vaccination?

Who most needs to know this: people aged 65 or above with a voucher account.

Start with eligibility and the amount. The voucher scheme's "Eligible Elderly Persons and Annual Voucher Amount" page states:

Elderly persons aged 65 or above and holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or Certificate of Exemption issued by the Immigration Department, except for those who obtained a Hong Kong Identity Card by virtue of a previous permission to land or remain in Hong Kong granted to him/ her and such permission has expired or ceased to be valid, are eligible to receive and use the vouchers to pay for private primary healthcare services.

At present, the annual voucher amount for each eligible elderly person is $2,000 while the accumulation limit of vouchers is $8,000.

Scope of use. The "Restrictions in Using Health Care Vouchers" page prints, in the column of permitted uses: "(including preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare services)". The column of what vouchers cannot be used for lists four items, all four reproduced here:

employing staff or solely purchasing products such as medication, spectacles, dried seafood, personal care products, food products or medical equipment;

public healthcare services subsidised by the Government, including healthcare services which the Hospital Authority purchases from the private sector (e.g. the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme), unless otherwise specified;

inpatient services, pre-paid healthcare services and day surgery procedures, such as cataract surgery or endoscopy services; and

settling the fees of healthcare services provided by service providers who have not enrolled in the Scheme.

⚠️ The fourth item is the master gate: vouchers can only be used with service providers enrolled in the scheme. The "Create Account and Use Vouchers" page states the operational side of the same point: the account is created by an "enrolled healthcare service provider", and elderly persons should "Ask the enrolled healthcare service provider about the service and charging items beforehand." A price example does not mean that a service can necessarily be paid for with vouchers, and this article makes no statement about the voucher arrangements of the two providers named.

The same page also states: "Save for the above, there is no limit on the voucher amount that can be used each time of receiving healthcare service but the total voucher amount used by a voucher recipient to settle the fee for healthcare service received should not exceed the amount of fee for that service." Question 18 of the "Frequently Asked Questions - Voucher Recipients" separately states: "Healthcare service providers should not charge handling fees or administrative fees for elderly persons using health care vouchers. An elderly person should not be charged at a higher rate (whether directly or indirectly) than a person who does not use health care vouchers when receiving equivalent health care services."

On the conditions officially set out, an eligible elderly person can use vouchers to pay a doctor's fee for pneumococcal vaccination. The "Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS)" section on page 3 of the Centre for Health Protection's pamphlet Elderly Receive Pneumococcal Vaccination states: "Doctors may impose extra fee, some may not charge extra fee. Elderly can use health care vouchers (HCV) to pay extra fee if the doctor has also joined the HCV Scheme." The Government's written Legislative Council reply of 21 February 2024 likewise lists the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme among the primary healthcare programmes for which vouchers are applicable. This conditional arrangement does not mean that every clinic, every self-paid vaccine or every transaction qualifies; nor do the price examples of the two providers amount to a guarantee that vouchers apply.

Doing the arithmetic (this article's own calculation from the figures quoted above, not a figure printed by any source): vouchers are issued at $2,000 a year. Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong's printed promotional price of 5,980 for the two-dose herpes zoster course is roughly three years of voucher issues; the Human Health online store's listed 4,980 for two doses is roughly two and a half years; a single RSV dose at 2,350 or 2,400 is slightly above one year's issue, but below the $8,000 accumulation limit. ⚠️ This is purely a comparison of amounts; it does not say that vouchers can be used on these items. Of the four restrictions above, the fourth ("settling the fees of healthcare services provided by service providers who have not enrolled in the Scheme") is the one that decides whether vouchers can be used at any given service provider, and the price comparison in this article does not cover the voucher enrolment of these two providers or the arrangements for individual products.

Can several jabs be given on the same day?

The Centre for Health Protection's own FAQs answer this directly. Question 39 of the influenza FAQs page (31 August 2026):

  1. Can pneumococcal vaccine be given together with seasonal influenza vaccine?
    Yes. Pneumococcal vaccine can be given with seasonal influenza vaccine at the same clinic visit, but should be administered with a different syringe and at a different injection site if inactivated influenza vaccine or recombinant influenza vaccine is used.

Question 43 on the same page:

  1. Can COVID-19 vaccine be given together with seasonal influenza vaccine?
    COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with seasonal influenza vaccine on the same visit under informed consent for administrative convenience and achieving better coverage.

⚠️ Question 44, which follows immediately, is part of the same set of answers: it states that common side effects of both vaccines are usually mild and temporary, and that "If symptoms persist, or if allergic reactions (such as hives or facial swelling) or serious side effects occur, you should seek medical advice promptly."

Question 14 of the pneumococcal FAQs page also states: "COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with, or at any time before or after, pneumococcal vaccines under informed consent."

The official FAQs give general co-administration guidance. Question 13 of the pneumococcal FAQs states that pneumococcal vaccines can be given together with other vaccines (including influenza vaccine), but with a different syringe and at a different injection site. Question 8 of the COVID-19 FAQs likewise states that, under informed consent, COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with, or at any time before or after, other vaccines including live attenuated vaccines; if COVID-19 vaccine and live attenuated vaccines are to be spaced out, "an interval of 14 days is sufficient" (this is not a requirement of a 14-day interval in every case). A footnote to the same question sets out an exception: for persons at high risk of exposure to Mpox receiving pre-exposure Mpox vaccination, an interval of at least four weeks before or after an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is recommended. The above is general official guidance; it is not this article drawing up a personalised schedule for the five vaccines, and it does not mean that the government COVID-19 vaccination service has resumed.

The five vaccines in one table

Coverage of five adult vaccines by government programmes. Sources: Centre for Health Protection, "Vaccination Subsidy Scheme - Medical Practitioner 2026/27" (page date 2026-08-31) https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/45849.html; "Vaccination Schemes - Persons Aged 50 Years or Above" (2026-08-31) https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/18881.html; "Pneumococcal Vaccination" (2026-08-31) https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/108124.html; "COVID-19 Vaccination Programme" (2026-09-06) https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html; "Public urged to receive COVID-19 vaccination in a timely manner as disease becomes endemic in Hong Kong" (2026-06-02) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202606/02/P2026060200439.htm; "LCQ18: Prevention and treatment of herpes zoster" (2024-11-20) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202411/20/P2024112000319.htm; "Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases issues interim consensus on respiratory syncytial virus vaccines" (2025-01-17) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202501/17/P2025011700541.htm. Last updated: 2026-09-08. The subsidy level is a deduction the Government pays the doctor; doctors may impose extra fees.
VaccineAge line (per the pages listed above)Coverage by government programmesSubsidy at a private clinic (per dose)
Seasonal influenza 50 years or above (counted by year of birth) The 2026/27 Government Vaccination Programme commences on 17 September 2026; persons with chronic illness are free at public clinics during regular follow-up appointments, and persons without chronic illness are free at District Health Centres / District Health Centre Expresses HK$260 (printed on the "Persons Aged 50 Years or Above" page in the row for private clinics / family doctors enrolled under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme)
Pneumococcal
(23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, 15-valent conjugate vaccine)		 65 years or above (counted by year of birth) Runs throughout the year; persons with high-risk conditions, or recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance / holders of a valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges issued by the Social Welfare Department, are free at public clinics. Note 2 attached to the "Public clinics" cell on that page states: "Some clinics provide pneumococcal vaccination for existing patients/ clients/ members of the designated public clinics only." 23-valent $400;
15-valent $800 (printed in the row for private clinics enrolled under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, applying to all persons aged 65 or above)
Herpes zoster (shingles jab) The three government programme pages above set out no subsidised age group; product indications follow the product's own registration and vaccination information Legislative Council reply of 2024-11-20, part (1): "The Government Vaccination Programmes also do not cover Herpes Zoster vaccines"; parts (2) to (4) of the same reply state that the Government currently has no plan to provide the vaccine through government programmes or in the form of subsidies (including the Community Care Fund), while the same paragraph also states that "Older adults and adults with immunocompromised conditions may consider receiving Herpes Zoster vaccine in consultation with their doctors", and that "more local data from a cost-benefit analysis would be required for future consideration on whether to include Herpes Zoster vaccine in the Government Vaccination Programmes" No subsidy level is set out in the government programmes cited in this article
RSV
(respiratory syncytial virus)		 The two vaccines described in the 2025-01 interim consensus are indicated for adults aged 60 years and above (the bivalent one carries a further indication for pregnant women, which this table does not cover; these are the indications as stated in that document at the time); the Committee singles out those aged 75 and above or living in residential care homes The three government programme pages above do not list it among the free or subsidised programmes; the Committee's consensus of 2025-01-17 is that it "does not recommend universal RSV vaccination for elderly persons", elderly persons being able to decide for themselves in consultation with their doctors No subsidy level is set out in the government programmes cited in this article
COVID-19 The priority groups for free booster doses include elderly persons aged 65 or above living in the community and persons aged 50 to 64 with underlying comorbidities (press release of 2026-02-24; the press release of 2026-06-02 adds healthcare workers to the same list, with the two thresholds relating to older people unchanged) A government programme separate from the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme; the press release of 2026-06-02 states that services for individuals aged 12 or above were available until 2026-09-05, and the Centre's three pages (2026-09-06) state that services are now suspended and are expected to resume in an orderly manner in the fourth quarter of this year Not applicable (that programme provides free vaccination, not a subsidy deduction)
Self-paid vaccine prices printed by two service providers on their own websites. Sources: Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, "New Generation Shingles Vaccination" promotion page (the page prints "Promotion period: from now to 31 December 2026.") https://gleneagles.hk/promotions/new-generation-shingles-vaccination-gleneagles-hospital-hong-kong; Human Health online store product pages (the pages print no effective date) https://mall.humanhealth.com.hk/en/products/shingrix-vaccine-2doses, https://mall.humanhealth.com.hk/en/products/shingrixsingle-dose, https://mall.humanhealth.com.hk/en/products/shingrixrn2, https://mall.humanhealth.com.hk/en/products/shingrixrn1, https://mall.humanhealth.com.hk/en/products/rsv, https://mall.humanhealth.com.hk/en/products/rsv-abrysvo. Last updated: 2026-09-08. This table lists only the prices published by these two providers themselves, and does not constitute a market price range.
ItemPrice printed by the providerConditions printed on the page
Herpes zoster vaccine (two-dose course)HK$5,980The fee includes one-time doctor's consultation and two doses of vaccine; "Each person should receive two doses, with the second dose to be administered 2 to 6 months after the first shot"; "Vaccination is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last"; promotion period to 2026-12-31; discounts provided to self-pay clients only, direct billing not applicable
Zoster Vaccine (Recombinant, Adjuvanted) (2 doses)4,980.00The page prints no effective date; there is also a "(Designated Location)" two-dose product at 4,800.00
Zoster Vaccine (Recombinant, Adjuvanted) (Single dose)2,800.00The page prints no effective date; there is also a "(Designated Location)" single-dose product at 2,500.00
RSV vaccine @AREXVY (single dose)2,350.00The page prints no effective date
RSV vaccine ABRYSVO® (single dose)2,400.00The page prints no effective date

Common questions

  • I am 62 and in good health — are all five jabs available to me at a reduced price? No. On the Centre for Health Protection's pages of 31 August 2026, the influenza jab has free or subsidised routes from 50; the free and subsidised pneumococcal groups are "eligible elderly aged 65 years or above"; voucher eligibility begins with the year in which a person reaches 65. On COVID-19, the press release of 24 February 2026 expressly places "healthy individuals aged 50 to 64" outside the high-risk priority groups recommended for booster vaccination. For the herpes zoster and RSV vaccines, the three pages cited in this article — the 2026/27 Government Vaccination Programme, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Vaccination Schemes overview — do not list them among the free or subsidised programmes.
  • The Government subsidises $260 / $400 / $800 — is that what I pay? No. Those are subsidy levels the Government pays the doctor. All three Centre for Health Protection pages that print these amounts carry a footnote to the same effect: "The doctor may impose extra fees, some doctors may not charge extra fees." Those three pages do not set out the amount actually payable at any individual clinic, and this article does not write a subsidy level as a uniform price. The Centre states that the list of private doctors participating in the scheme is at apps.hcv.gov.hk/public/en/SPS/Search.
  • Are the shingles jab and the RSV jab equally "left alone" by the Government? Neither is listed in the 2026/27 Government Vaccination Programme, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme or the overview page cited in this article, and the official documents distinguish individual vaccination from public subsidy: both leave individual room for a decision to be vaccinated after consulting a doctor, and both tie inclusion in a programme to local cost-benefit data. For the shingles jab, one and the same paragraph of the written Legislative Council reply of 20 November 2024 says that "Older adults and adults with immunocompromised conditions may consider receiving Herpes Zoster vaccine in consultation with their doctors", that "more local data from a cost-benefit analysis would be required for future consideration on whether to include Herpes Zoster vaccine in the Government Vaccination Programmes", and that the Government currently has no plan to provide the vaccine through government programmes or in the form of subsidies (including the Community Care Fund). For RSV, the Scientific Committee's interim consensus of 17 January 2025 says that "Pending specific recommendations from the WHO and local data from the cost-benefit perspective, the SCVPD does not recommend universal RSV vaccination for elderly persons", while also saying that elderly persons (especially those aged 75 and above or living in residential care homes) may decide for themselves, in consultation with their doctors, to be vaccinated for personal protection. The difference lies in the kind of document: for the shingles jab a sentence in a written reply states the scope of the programmes directly ("The Government Vaccination Programmes also do not cover Herpes Zoster vaccines", from the passage in part (1) explaining why there are no vaccination statistics), whereas for RSV the three government programme pages above do not list it among the free or subsidised programmes.
  • Can I get a COVID-19 booster today? The Centre for Health Protection's three Chinese COVID-19 pages (page date 6 September 2026) state that the LP.8.1 vaccine has expired, that vaccination services under the programme are now suspended, and that they are expected to resume in an orderly manner in the fourth quarter of this year. Counting the English programme page, none of the four COVID-19 pages cited in this article names the vaccine that will take over, and none gives a specific resumption date; this article makes no guess either.
  • When did the service for those aged 12 or above stop? The Government press release of 2 June 2026 states "Individuals aged 12 or above: Vaccination services will be available until September 5, 2026." The Centre's programme page of 6 September has announced that services are suspended.
  • There are COVID-19 vaccination recommendations — does that mean the government programme has resumed? No. The Centre's programme page of 6 September and question 3 of the COVID-19 FAQs state that services are suspended and that vaccine is being procured. Question 9 sets out the lineages that may be chosen, but no actual supply product or specific resumption date has been announced.
  • Do I have to register for eHealth to get an influenza or pneumococcal jab under the government programmes? These free or subsidised routes carry a registration requirement. Both of the Centre's programme pages print "Recipients aged 18 or above must register for eHealth"; question 20 of the pneumococcal FAQs also states that elderly persons must register for eHealth to be eligible for subsidised or free vaccination, and that they may use "express registration for eHealth" at the vaccination sites.
  • Can the influenza jab and the pneumococcal jab be given on the same day? Question 39 of the Centre's influenza FAQs states "Yes. Pneumococcal vaccine can be given with seasonal influenza vaccine at the same clinic visit", and states that where inactivated or recombinant influenza vaccine is used they should be administered with a different syringe and at a different injection site.

Related article: 〈Your body-check report says "abnormal" — what to do next〉

What this article does not state

  • This article does not advise anyone to receive or to decline any vaccine. It sets out only whom each government programme states it covers and how much it subsidises, and the prices published by two service providers themselves.
  • This article does not set out the amount actually payable to any individual doctor after the government subsidy. The doctors' scheme page states expressly that extra charges may be imposed; the "Persons Aged 50 Years or Above" page and the pneumococcal page also explain that some doctors do not charge extra, and none of the three pages carries a price list for individual clinics.
  • This article describes a conditional voucher arrangement for the doctor's fee for pneumococcal vaccination; it does not guarantee that any individual clinic, product or transaction qualifies. The doctor must be enrolled in both the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme, and the elderly person must meet the corresponding eligibility conditions.
  • This article does not state whether there is any transitional route between 5 September 2026 and the resumption. The press release of 2 June 2026 says only that "During this transition period, eligible individuals will not be able to receive free COVID-19 vaccines through the Programme for a short period", and says nothing further.
  • The two providers' listed prices in this article are given only to illustrate amounts. The voucher arrangements of individual institutions and vaccine products are not covered by that price comparison.
  • This article does not treat the possible COVID-19 vaccine lineages as a supply arrangement. Question 9 of the Centre's COVID-19 FAQs sets out three possible lineages, but neither that page nor the suspension notice announces an actual supply product or an exact resumption date.
  • This article does not state whether herpes zoster vaccine policy has changed since 22 October 2025. The written reply on herpes zoster described here is of that date, and its content is that the University of Hong Kong cost-effectiveness analysis is expected to be completed by 2026 and that the Scientific Committee will review the findings on receiving the report. This article does not write an expected completion time as a completed report or a changed policy.
  • This article does not provide a market price range for RSV vaccines, nor cite any private hospital's RSV charges. The RSV prices cover only two products in the Human Health online store, and those two pages print no effective date.
  • This article cites general official guidance on co-administration and its exceptions; it does not draw up an individual schedule for five vaccines for anyone. Suitability, past records and product arrangements still have to be assessed case by case.
  • This article does not cite the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases' own pneumococcal recommendation document, nor that Committee's own influenza recommendation document for 2026/27. Their contents are cited here only as recounted on the Centre for Health Protection's pages and in Government press releases.
  • This article does not treat the statement in the Legislative Council question that "ordinary medical groups charging no less than HK$5,000" as government data. That sentence comes from the Member's question, not from a departmental fee statistic.
  • This article does not recommend or rate any doctor, clinic or hospital. The two service providers named appear only because their own websites publish prices, and only those published figures are cited.
  • This article does not cite the vaccination recommendations or the list of those who should not be vaccinated on the Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong promotion page. The recommended recipients and the contraindications that page sets out by reference to the guidance of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not cited at all, and this article makes no statement about whether anyone is suitable for vaccination.
  • This article does not provide medical advice, and cannot judge whether any individual is suitable for any vaccine.
  • This is the English edition. The Traditional Chinese edition is the authoritative version of this article. Quotations above are reproduced from the official English text published by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not translated by this site.

This article is health information, not medical advice.

Sources

Official arrangements may be updated; what the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection and the institutions concerned announce prevails. This article is health information, not medical advice, and cannot judge whether any individual is suitable for vaccination. If symptoms persist after vaccination, or if an allergic reaction or serious side effects occur, the Centre for Health Protection's FAQ pages state that medical advice should be sought promptly.