Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases updates recommendations on use of meningococcal vaccines
The Department of Health (DH) said today (July 30) that the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH held a meeting earlier this week and updated the recommendations on the use of meningococcal vaccines in Hong Kong after reviewing the local epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease, the latest recommendations of the WorldHealthOrganization(WHO) and overseas practices, and balancing the risks and benefits of meningococcal vaccination.
In light of the very low invasive meningococcal disease incidence in Hong Kong, introducing universal meningococcal vaccination into the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme is not recommended by the SCVPD from the public health perspective.
Based on the risk of infection, the SCVPD recommended the following individuals to receive meningococcal vaccinations as appropriate for personal protection.
1. Travellers at higher risk of exposure, including:
Those travelling to sub-Saharan regions of Africa during the dry season (i.e. December to June) should consult their doctors to receive quadrivalent MenACWY vaccine;
Those travelling to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah should receive quadrivalent MenACWY vaccine;
Those travelling to other areas with reported meningococcal disease epidemics or outbreaks should receive vaccine that aligns with the destination's prevalent serogroups;
Long-term travellers (such as those studying abroad) should receive meningococcal vaccination per the recommendations by the health authorities in the destination country;
Individuals with immunodeficiency (advanced HIV infection, terminal complement component deficiencies and asplenia); and
Laboratory workers who are routinely exposed to isolates of N. meningitidis.
Travellers should seek professional advice from doctors for meningococcal vaccination. Doctors will take into account their age, health conditions, and details of the journeys (including destination, duration and activities) when giving the vaccination advice. In addition, the aforementioned three categories of individuals with immunodeficiency and relevant laboratory workers should seek advice from doctors for meningococcal vaccination as appropriate based on their underlying medical conditions and the risk of occupational exposure respectively.
The SCVPD will continue to monitor the scientific evidence, local epidemiology and recommendations from the WHO and overseas authorities, to review the recommendations on the use of meningococcal vaccinations from a public health perspective as appropriate.
The recommendations of the SCVPD have been uploaded to the CHPwebsite.
Source: AI-found images
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Kai Tak today
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Kai Tak this afternoon (January 12). While a male worker was detaching the lifting gear connected to the top of a water tank, the water tank displaced suddenly, trapping the worker between the water tank and a bored pile casing nearby. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the use of mobile cranes for lifting operation at site concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."
The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
To prevent workers from being struck or trapped by loads when engaged in unrigging process, the LD reminds employers to (i) ensure that the place supporting the loads is secure; and (ii) formulate proper unrigging methods for detaching lifting gear so as to prevent displacement of the objects in the course of unrigging operations.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
Source: AI-found images
