Winter is on the horizon, and with it comes the dreaded flu season, coinciding with a surge in Covid-19 cases set to engulf Hong Kong. Health officials are urgently advising everyone, especially those in high-risk categories, to arm themselves with vaccinations against both the flu and coronavirus to ward off any potentially serious health issues.

The head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan, has sounded the alarm, citing surveillance data that indicates an impending flu surge. The number of patients admitted to hospitals with the flu and the proportion of respiratory specimens tested by public laboratories are both rapidly approaching the threshold that signals the start of the flu peak season.

In Hong Kong, influenza A subtype H3 currently reigns supreme as the most prevalent flu virus, accounting for around 80% of infections. Influenza B and flu A subtype H1 follow closely behind. The number of severe flu cases is also on the upswing, with 23 cases reported last week compared to 14 cases the week before.

At the same time, Covid-19 infections are also on the upswing. The viral load in sewage samples surged by about 40% between December 24 and 30. Nevertheless, there has not been a noteworthy increase in serious or fatal Covid-19 cases.

Health officials are particularly worried about a strain called JN. 1, listed as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization. This variant has a competitive edge over other existing variants and has rapidly gained traction among coronavirus infections in Hong Kong.

In anticipation of the double trouble of the flu and Covid-19, the government is imploring the public, especially those at higher risk, to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated. A stock of 200,000 doses of the XBB vaccine has been obtained, with priority vaccination being given to those at higher risk.

Dr. Albert Au Ka-wing, in charge of the centre’s emergency response and programme management branch, has stressed the critical nature of vaccination, especially for young children and the elderly. However, at present, overall vaccination rates for both the flu and coronavirus remain low among these groups.

As the city braces for the impending peak of the winter flu season and a surge in Covid-19 cases, it is of utmost importance for everyone, particularly those at higher risk, to take the necessary precautions and get vaccinated in order to safeguard themselves and others from potentially serious health conditions.