Hong Kong urges flu vaccination for children after tragic death
Hong Kong health authorities are urging parents to vaccinate their children against seasonal influenza after a 13-year-old girl who had not received the current season’s flu jab died in hospital. The death marks the first paediatric influenza-related fatality in the city this year and has intensified public health messaging ahead of the winter months.
Timeline of events and the illness
The girl, previously healthy, began experiencing common flu symptoms—fever, cough, sore throat and a runny nose—last Sunday. Her condition worsened over the following days, and she collapsed at home on Thursday. She was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital and was transferred to Hong Kong Children’s Hospital on the same day. A nasopharyngeal swab confirmed infection with the influenza B virus.
Despite intensive care, her condition deteriorated, and she died later on Sunday. The case underscores how quickly influenza can progress in young patients, even when they appear healthy at the outset.
Vaccination status and public health response
The student attended TWGHs Wong Fung Ling College in Ma On Shan and had received the government’s 2024-2025 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) programme. She had not yet received the jab for the 2025-2026 season, which had already started when she fell ill. Health authorities reiterated that the current season’s vaccine is designed to protect against the strains most likely to circulate, including influenza B, which was identified in this case.
Healthcare officials emphasise that vaccination remains the most effective defense against severe illness, hospitalization and death from influenza, particularly for children and other high-risk groups. The CHP (Centre for Health Protection) and city leaders have called on families to ensure their children receive the updated flu shot as soon as possible and to seek early medical attention if flu-like symptoms appear in school-aged children.
What parents should know about the 2025-2026 flu season
Experts advise that it typically takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop. With school terms in session and winter approaching, the risk of transmission increases in households and community settings. Vaccination not only helps protect the individual child but also reduces transmission within households, potentially sparing vulnerable relatives and classmates from severe illness.
In addition to vaccination, health authorities remind families about everyday preventive measures: frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick, and seeking medical advice if a child experiences high fever, breathing difficulties, or signs of dehydration.
What this means for schools and communities
Schools are important venues for influenza vaccination campaigns, and many institutions collaborate with public health authorities to offer on-site vaccination or information sessions. The incident has prompted schools to review their health protocols and communication strategies to ensure families are informed about the current vaccine recommendations and the importance of timely immunisation.
Bottom line
The death of a 13-year-old unvaccinated for the current season highlights the real-world consequences of influenza and reinforces public health calls for timely vaccination among children. As the city braces for the flu season, authorities stress that the updated vaccine for 2025-2026 is a crucial line of defense. Parents are urged to consult healthcare providers about vaccination timing and to monitor children for flu symptoms during the coming weeks.
