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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Secretary for Health attends 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in Macao

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to attend the 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government in Macao today (January 15).

The annual Joint Meeting has long been a platform for senior medical and health officials as well as experts from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to exchange views and share experiences on present-day medical and public health issues, as well as to promote healthcare service development. The Joint Meeting is hosted by the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in rotation.

The Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Lei Haichao, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ms O Lam, led senior health officials from the Mainland and the Macao SAR Government respectively to participate in the meeting. Members of the delegations of the three places today engaged in sharing and discussions over three major topics, namely nurturing interdisciplinary and composite talent in clinical management, disease prevention and control, and medical administration; strengthening primary healthcare services to safeguard community health, and the application of smart healthcare in the health sector.

Professor Lo said, "The Recommendations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, features the term 'reform' 23 times, unequivocally underscoring the nation's steadfast commitment to deepening reforms. Hong Kong has consistently been playing an active role in the course of the country's reform and opening up. Serving as a 'super connector' between the Mainland and the world, Hong Kong also functions as an indispensable 'super value-adder', facilitating the nation's effort in going global while attracting foreign investment to the Mainland market.

"The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has consistently emphasised in the Policy Addresses of the past three years the HKSAR Government's full commitment to developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and to vigorously foster new quality productive forces. To achieve this significant objective, the HKSAR Government is actively advancing various initiatives, including the setting up of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation within this year, with a view to establishing the Centre as an internationally recognised regulatory authority for medical products as soon as possible; the official launch of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform last month, enabling pharmaceutical companies to conduct trials simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen; as well as the commissioning of the Real-World Study and Application Centre to promote the standardisation of clinical data across the GBA."

The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Libby Lee, and the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Wong Yiu-chung, moderated a discussion and gave a presentation on the application of smart healthcare in the health sector respectively. Meanwhile, the acting Deputy Director of Health, Dr Jackie Leung, and the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau, delivered presentations on the topic of nurturing interdisciplinary and composite talent in clinical management, disease prevention and control, and medical administration; as well as on the topic of strengthening primary healthcare services to safeguard community health respectively.

Members of the HKSAR Government delegation included the Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, who concluded the discussion at the meeting.

Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong in the evening. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, is the Acting Secretary for Health.

Secretary for Health attends 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health attends 20th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases