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To safeguard public health, the Government is implementing a territory-wide This link will open in a new windowCOVID-19 Vaccination Programme free of charge for eligible persons. Under the Programme, COVID-19 vaccination will be available in different locations, including Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations(PCVS), Children Community Vaccination Centres(CCVC), Designated general outpatient clinics and Designated Special Outpatient Clinics at public hospitals of Hospital Authority, Designated private clinics, Designated clinics of the Department of Health (DH) and outreach to residential care homes or other suitable venues.

Based on local studies and experience, COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against severe disease and death. Members of the public, who have not completed the initial dose(s) of vaccine, they are recommended to get free vaccination as early as possible for self-protection. Early vaccination for all!

This link will open in a new windowSeasonal Influenza is an acute illness of the respiratory tract caused by influenza viruses. In Hong Kong, seasonal influenza is usually more common in periods from January to March/April and from July to August. Influenza viruses mainly spread through droplets when infected people cough, sneeze or talk. To prevent seasonal influenza, members of the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. The infection may also spread by direct contact with the secretions of infected persons. A person getting influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and has a higher risk of death, and seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) may reduce in influenza-associated hospitalisation and death. The experts highly recommended members of the public, especially those high-risk individuals, to receive COVID-19 vaccination and seasonal influenza vaccination at the same time as soon as possible, to guard against the possible COVID-19 upsurge and flu season which may appear simultaneously. Please consult family doctors about the details of receiving seasonal influenza vaccination.

This link will open in a new windowMpox is a zoonosis caused by monkeypox virus. Since May 2022, there has been a multi-country outbreak of monkeypox reported from many countries in widely disparate geographical areas globally. Infection could occur when a person comes into contact with the virus from infected animals, infected humans or contaminated materials.

Members of the public should take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of contracting Mpox. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience symptoms of Mpox, including fever, severe headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph node, mouth lesion and rash.

The This link will open in a new windowMpox Vaccination Programme for high-risk groups commences on 5 October 2022, the high-risk target groups of Hong Kong residents can receive Mpox vaccination on a voluntary basis.

Hiking is a physical activity with both physical and mental benefits. It can improve your physical fitness and help you relax. To ensure a pleasant hiking trip, let us provide you with This link will open in a new windowa guide for hikers.

When the weather gets cold, elderly may feel unwell due to the lowering of body temperature as a result of their weaker temperature control mechanism and less subcutaneous fat. Excessive drop in body temperature can lead to hypothermia. Persons with chronic illnesses such as chronic respiratory illnesses or heart disease are vulnerable to disease aggravation due to cold weather. Some senior persons may have decreased mobility, which in turn slows down the ability to generate and conserve body heat. Chronic illnesses, including hypertension, diabetes and endocrine disorders, may undermine the health of the elderly and lower their metabolic rate, subsequently causing their body to generate less heat. Therefore, elderly should This link will open in a new windowbe prepared for cold weather.

Health indices in Hong Kong rank among the best in the world.

The life expectancies at birth have increased from 67.8 years for males and 75.3 years for females in 1971 to 82.5 years and 88.1 years respectively in 2023.

Hong Kong's population has been aging steadily. In 2023, 21.8% of the population were aged 65 and above (11.8% in 2003, 14.2% in 2013) and the elderly dependency ratio was 321 per 1000 population aged 15 to 64 (162 in 2003, 190 in 2013).

In 2023, the registered crude death rate^* was 7.5 per 1000 population. In the last two decades, the age-specific death rates for all age groups have shown a steady decline. The age-standardised death rate^*, which takes into account population aging, was 2.8 per 1000 standard population^ in 2023.

Infant mortality rate^* was consistently low at 1.6 per 1000 registered live births^*in 2023.

Maternal mortality ratio^* remained low over the last two decades. There was one registered maternal death^* in 2023, giving a maternal mortality ratio^* of 3.0 per 100000 registered live births^*.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remained to be the major causes of death in 2023. Four major NCDs, namely malignant neoplasms (cancer), cardiovascular diseases (which include diseases of heart and cerebrovascular diseases), chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus, together accounted for 50.6% of all registered deaths^* in 2023.

* The figures are based on births and deaths registered under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance (Cap. 174, Laws of Hong Kong) during the specified period.
^ Based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001.

26 Nov 2024