Hong Kong Updates Pneumococcal Vaccination Program, Recommends PCV15 for Children and High-Risk Elderly.

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

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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

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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

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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

FS attends Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, arrived in Shanghai this afternoon (June 17) to begin his visit to Shanghai and Nanjing. In the evening, he attended the Plenary Session of the Lujiazui Forum and delivered a speech on "Empowering High-standard Financial Opening-up through Shanghai-Hong Kong Financial Synergy".

Mr Chan said that the country has, for the first time, clearly set out in the 15th Five-Year Plan the acceleration of efforts to build a strong financial nation, providing Hong Kong and Shanghaiwith a shared mission. In the face of a complex geopolitical environment and a new round of technological revolution, international investors have growing demand for diversified asset allocation. Hong Kong and Shanghaishould give full play to their complementary strengths and work in synergy to jointly serve the country's high-level two-way opening-up.

He pointed out that Hong Kong and Shanghai connect the Mainland's enormous market on the one hand and global capital and international rules on the other, serving as important channels for international capital to allocate into Chineseassets. The mutual market access mechanisms between the two places have continued to expand and deepen. More than 70 per cent of the Mainland stocks held by foreign investors are allocated through Stock Connect, while about two-thirds of the Mainland bonds held by overseas investors are accessed through Bond Connect. This reflects international investors'trust in the institutional arrangements, settlement security and regulatory collaboration of the two places. He welcomed the announcement made today by the Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mr Wu Qing, supporting the launch of trading of five-year Renminbi government bond futures in Hong Kong in the near future, noting that this would help improve risk management tools for the Renminbi bond market and attract more international investors to participate in the Mainland government bond market.

Mr Chan said that co-operation between the capital markets of Hong Kong and Shanghaihas continued to deepen. As of May this year, 212 Shanghai enterprises were listed in Hong Kong, with a total market capitalisation of over HK$4.3 trillion. Last year, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government signed the Action Plan for Collaborative Development of Shanghai and Hong Kong International Financial Centres. This year, Hong Kong and the Shanghai Gold Exchange established a co-operation mechanism, while Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and China Financial Futures Exchange will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding during this Forum, demonstrating that co-operation between the two places is moving from individual projects towards systematic linkage and synergistic development.

Looking ahead, he proposed two directions for co-operation. First, the two places should jointly open up full-chain fundraising and financing channels, promote more innovation and technology enterprises in pursuing two-way financing pathways, and jointly develop exchange-traded funds and index products. They should also promote co-operation in patient capital and long-term capital to support the development of emerging and future industries. Second, the two places should jointly enhance the international functions of Renminbi, enrich investment products and risk management tools, and promote the launch of more "China price" products denominated and settled in Renminbi. At the same time, Hong Kong and Shanghaican speed up efforts to promote the synergistic combination of "industries in Shanghai and offshore treasury in Hong Kong", supporting enterprises to go global in a steadier and better manner.

Mr Chan said that Hong Kong is actively taking forward its first five-year plan to align more closely with the country's 15th Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong and Shanghaihave long enjoyed complementary strengths and mutually beneficial co-operation, and there is broad room for synergistic development in the coming five years. He expressed the hope that the two places would make good use of the power of finance to create tangible value for enterprises and the public.

Others who delivered speeches in the relevant session of the Forum included the Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Mr Wu Wei; former Vice-Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and Vice-President of the China Society for Finance and Banking, Mr Fang Xinghai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ms Julia Leung; andrepresentatives of financial institutions from Hong Kong and Shanghai as well as international think tanks.

Mr Chan will continue his itinerary in Shanghai tomorrow morning (June 18) and proceed toNanjing in the afternoon.

FS attends Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FS attends Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FS attends Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FS attends Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FS attends Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases