Useful Information

Do You Know that...

To safeguard public, This link will open in a new windowCOVID-19 Vaccination Programme will administer booster to eligible persons according to the updated recommendations for high-risk priority groups.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) urged members of the public who have not completed the initial dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) to get vaccinated promptly. Those at high risk should receive a booster dose as soon as possible to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection.

Although COVID-19 activity currently remains at a low level, there are generally periodic upsurges in the COVID-19 activity level approximately every six to nine months. As it has been over seven months since the end of last periodic upsurge of COVID-19 activity, there may be another periodic upsurge in Hong Kong in the next few months. Members of the public should receive a COVID-19 vaccine in a timely manner to reduce the risk of serious illness and death due to COVID-19.

This link will open in a new windowAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) evolve to become resistant to previously effective medications (i.e. antimicrobials). It is considered one of the greatest threats to global health and economy.

Antibiotics, a type of antimicrobial, are medications used for treating bacterial infection. When antibiotics wipe out disease-causing bacteria in our body, normal bacteria are also killed, thereby increasing the opportunity for resistant bacteria to grow and multiply. These resistant bacteria are sometimes referred to as ‘superbugs’. Some superbugs are capable of resisting more than one antibiotic causing infections difficult to treat. Although there may be non-first-line antibiotics available, they may be less effective or cause more side effects. Moreover, AMR develops at a fast rate than the development of new medicines. If the problem of AMR does not improve, there would be fewer effective treatment options.

To combat antimicrobial resistance, members of the public should follow your doctor’s advice when taking antibiotics; do not demand antibiotics from your doctor; do not stop taking antibiotics by yourselves even if you are feeling better; practise frequent hand hygiene, especially before eating and taking medicine, and after going to the toilet; ensure your vaccination is up-to-date; and maintain cough etiquette, wear a surgical mask if you have respiratory symptoms.

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. As persons who contract influenza and COVID-19 at the same time are at a higher risk of severe complications and death, the CHP strongly recommends that high-risk individuals receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) and COVID-19 vaccination booster to reduce the risk of serious illness and death. Please consult family doctors about the details of receiving seasonal influenza vaccination.

This link will open in a new window Norovirus infection typically causes acute gastroenteritis. It is also a common cause of food poisoning and is usually related to consumption of undercooked shellfish. People can get norovirus infection from having direct contact with an infected person, consuming contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Norovirus can also cause outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in settings where people are staying close together such as schools, elderly homes, hotels, play facilities and cruise ships. The disease affects people of all age groups and tends to be more common during winter.

As a general measure to prevent gastroenteritis, members of the public are advised to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene.

This link will open in a new window Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is transmitted primarily by the faecal-oral route when an uninfected person contacts objects or ingests food or water that has been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person. The virus can also be transmitted through close physical contact with an infectious person, including sexual contact and not limited to anal-oral contact. Hepatitis A outbreaks among men who have sex with men have been reported. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. The goal of therapy is to minimise discomfort and ensure proper nutrition. Maintain good personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, food hygiene and Hepatitis A vaccination can prevent hepatitis A effectively. Hepatitis A vaccination is a safe and effective means to prevent the infection. Persons who are at increased risk for acquiring hepatitis A or with increased risk for severe adverse consequences should discuss with their doctors about hepatitis A vaccination for personal protection.

Let’s support the “Joyful Fruit & Veg Month”. This link will open in a new windowFruit and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. We recommend at least 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables a day to adult for improving health and reducing the risks of major diseases.

Exercise can strengthen the heart and lungs, improve blood circulation, relax your mind, regulate mental stress, burn off calories and help you keep an ideal body weight. If we have little accurate knowledge of exercise and limited awareness of safety measures, we will be vulnerable to This link will open in a new windowsports injuries.

The life expectancy at birth increased from 67.8 years for males and 75.3 years for females in 1971 to 82.7 years and 88.2 years respectively in 2024.

The population of Hong Kong has been ageing steadily. In 2024, 22.8% of the population were aged 65 and above (12.1% in 2004, 14.7% in 2014) and the elderly dependency ratio was 340 per 1 000 population aged between 15 and 64 (165 in 2004, 198 in 2014).

In 2024, the registered crude death rate^* was 7.0 per 1 000 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 ageing, was 2.5 per 1 000 standard population^ in 2024.

Infant mortality rate^* was consistently low at 1.7 per 1 000 registered live births^*in 2024.

Maternal mortality ratio^* remained low over the last two decades. There were two registered maternal death^* in 2024, giving a maternal mortality ratio^* of 5.4 per 100 000 registered live births^*.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remained to be the major causes of death in 2024. 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 52.7% of all registered deaths^* in 2024.

* The figures are based on births or 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.

8 Apr 2026