An older adult living with diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and more will often ask: "I already have so many problems — is it even right for me to get jabs?" The answer: it's precisely because of these chronic conditions that you need vaccines more.

Why chronic-disease patients need vaccines more

For older adults with chronic conditions, catching flu, pneumococcal disease and the like brings a markedly higher risk of serious complications, hospitalisation, even death, than for the general population. Vaccines are an effective way to lower that risk. Stable, well-controlled chronic conditions (such as controlled diabetes or hypertension) are not a contraindication.

Priority vaccines for older adults

  • Flu vaccine: every year — the baseline protection for older adults.
  • Pneumococcal vaccine: lowers the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive infection.
  • COVID-19 vaccine: vaccinate or boost per current recommendations.
  • Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine: for eligible older adults, lowers the risk of shingles and its lingering nerve pain.
  • RSV vaccine: for eligible older adults, lowers the risk of RSV-related lower-respiratory illness.

Vaccines are named here by disease or category; this site doesn't favour any brand — which specific product to use is decided by your doctor for your situation.

Order and timing: let your family doctor coordinate

Needing several jabs doesn't mean having them all at once. Review your conditions, medications and vaccination record with your family doctor in one go, and set the priorities and schedule (for example, the most pressing flu vaccine first, the rest staged by season and your health). Some vaccines can be given on the same day; others need spacing — your doctor will judge what's best.

Help with the cost

Hong Kong has several schemes to ease the cost of vaccination for older adults, including the Government Vaccination Programme, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, and the Elderly Health Care Voucher. Eligible older adults can make use of these subsidies; ask your doctor or clinic about the details and each year's arrangements (see our cost articles for price ranges).

This article is general information. Which vaccines to have, when, and whether they can be given on the same day should be discussed with your family doctor.