DH responds to media enquiries about pneumococcal vaccine
In response to media enquiries about the pneumococcal vaccine, including suggestions from members of the public to include the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) in the Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 5) gave the following response:
Vaccination arrangements are in line with the Scientific Committee's recommendations
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due to unique epidemiological factors and circumstances, pneumococcal vaccination programmes vary among different countries and regions.
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD), under the CHP, comprises members from the public sector, private sector and the academia. All members are experts in the field of public health and communicable disease. The SCVPD regularly reviews the epidemiology of the vaccine preventable diseases in Hong Kong, the latest recommendations on immunisation from the World Health Organization, the scientific development and application of new vaccines, updates on vaccine components, cost-effectiveness studies, and experiences from other health authorities. It provides advice to the DH from a public health perspective. The DH updates various immunisation programmes periodically, taking the SCVPD's recommendations into account.
In September 2023, the SCVPD conducted a comprehensive review of the use of the pneumococcal vaccine in Hong Kong based on the latest scientific evidence and developments at that time. After analysing and comparing the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which was in use at that time, with two newer vaccines available on the market, namely the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV20) and the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV15), the SCVPD concluded that the PCV15 induced higher immunogenicity against Serotype 3. It was believed to be more effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by this serotype.
Since Serotype 3 is one of the most common pneumococcal strains causing IPD in Hong Kong, accounting for approximately half of all cases, the SCVPD recommended replacing the PCV13 with the PCV15 in both the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) and the Government Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme. High-risk elderly shall administer one dose of the PCV15, followed by one dose of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine one year later.
The Government accepted the above recommendations by the SCVPD. Since last August, the PCV15 has been provided to eligible children and elderly through the HKCIP and the Government Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme respectively (including both free and subsidised).
Vaccination rates in Hong Kong are gradually increasing
--------------------------------------------------------------
In 2024/25, the Government administered approximately 127 000 doses of the pneumococcal vaccine through various vaccination programmes, representing a 12 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023/24. Under relevant Government vaccination programmes, over 750 000 elderly aged 65 or above received pneumococcal vaccine, with a coverage rate of about 44 per cent, an increased of about 5 per cent compared to the same period in 2023/24. Approximately 65 per cent of the residents in residential care homes for the elderly received pneumococcal vaccine.
For young children, the DH regularly conducts territory-wide immunisation coverage surveys and randomly checks the immunisation records of a sample of pre-school children in Hong Kong to monitor the vaccination coverage rates among this group. The results in the 2024 survey showed that 98 per cent of children had completed the pneumococcal vaccination.
Currently, there is no universally recognised standard for pneumococcal vaccine coverage rate worldwide, and pneumococcal vaccine coverage rates vary significantly across different regions. Nevertheless, local data indicates that the pneumococcal vaccination coverage rate among the elderly is gradually increasing.
The DH will continue its multi-pronged approach, utilising various online and offline channels, including television, radio, social media platforms, websites, newspapers and public transportation, to appeal to and encourage eligible elderly to receive the pneumococcal vaccination. In addition to the Government Vaccination Programme, the DH has collaborated closely with private doctors to implement the pneumococcal vaccination programmes through a public-private partnership model.
DH and SCVPD will review the vaccination programmes as appropriate
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furthermore, the CHP and the SCVPD will opportunely review the epidemiology situation of IPD in Hong Kong, the latest scientific evidence on the use of relevant vaccines and the development of new vaccines (such as the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine). Vaccination recommendations will be updated as necessary. The Government will also review the pneumococcal vaccination programmes in Hong Kong, taking into account the SCVPD's recommendations and other public health factors, in order to safeguard public health.
Source: AI-found images
Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following latest information today (April 28) on the traffic and public transport arrangements during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week (May 1 to 5):
During the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs), the Transport Department (TD) appealed to cross-boundary travellers to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.
Enhancing services for travel convenience
The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:
The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times from April 30 to May 5 based on passenger demand;
The train service of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Futian Stations will be enhanced from April 30 to May 3, with 13 additional pairs of trains (i.e. 26 train trips) operating daily. On May 4 and 5, there will be one additional pair of trains operating daily between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Futian Stations, and between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Shenzhenbei Stations respectively. One additional pair of temporary sleeper train trips operating between Hong Kong West Kowloon and Beijingxi Stations will also be added on April 30 and from May 5 to 7 daily;
Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;
Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;
Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and
The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.
Travel during non-peak hours
It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic. They should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads may also be affected, and passengers should remain patient while waiting.
As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau BCP and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
Information dissemination
For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.
The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Mainland's Labour Day Golden Week, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.
Source: AI-found images
