DH calls on eligible female Hong Kong residents to complete HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer as Government's catch-up programme will conclude at end of next month
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 12) reminded the public that the one-off Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Catch-up Programme, launched by the Government in 2024, will end on December 31, 2026. Eligible female Hong Kong residents who have received the first dose* of HPV vaccination under the catch-up programme should act quickly and complete their vaccination series, in order to avoid missing this final opportunity to receive the HPV vaccination for free.
"Receiving HPV vaccination can effectively prevent life-threatening cervical cancer. The catch-up programme has been in place for nearly two years, with a cumulative total of over 74 000 vaccine doses administered. Eligible female Hong Kong residents who have received the first dose* under the catch-up programme should contact the Women Wellness Satellites (WWSs) or designated District Health Centres (DHC)/DHC Express as soon as possible to complete their vaccination series. Otherwise, they will need to arrange and pay for their own vaccination in the future," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.
Under the catch-up programme, each eligible female Hong Kong resident born between 2004 and 2008 who has not completed the HPV vaccination series can receive two doses of free vaccination, while immunocompromised persons have to receive three doses of vaccination (all three doses are free of charge). For women with normal immune function, the recommended interval between the two doses of the HPV vaccine is at least five months. Eligible female Hong Kong residents who have registered an eHealth account can make an appointment either online or by phone (2855 1333) to receive free HPV vaccination at WWSs or designated DHC/DHC Express under the Primary Healthcare Commission of the Health Bureau (please refer to the Annex for details).
"The CHP would like to express its gratitude to all secondary schools and post-secondary institutions for their support, which has facilitated the smooth implementation of the catch-up programme. The CHP has been promoting the catch-up programme by setting up information booths at post-secondary institutions, and arranging for the DH's outreach teams to visit nurse training schools, disciplinary forces training schools, uniformed groups and relevant organisations to aarange catch-up vaccinations.
"Some individuals have misconceptions about the HPV vaccine. For instance, some mistakenly believe that only people with promiscuous lifestyles or multiple sexual partners can contract HPV. Others worry about potential side effects from the vaccine. In fact, HPV vaccines have been used worldwide for many years. The World Health Organization (WHO) and overseas health authorities have confirmed that HPV vaccines are safe and effective. Studies have also shown that receiving the HPV vaccine does not cause children to become sexually active earlier than they otherwise would. I urge eligible female Hong Kong residents to take advantage of this final opportunity to complete the HPV vaccination course free of charge through the catch-up programme before December 31. This will help protect their health and reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer," added Dr Tsui.
Cervical cancer ranks ninth among cancer deaths in females in Hong Kong, with 160 deaths recorded in 2024. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with high-risk HPV. HPV vaccines are effective in preventing high-risk HPV, including HPV 16 and 18, with protection rates over 90 per cent. The WHO recommends that all countries introduce HPV vaccines for girls aged 9 to 14 before their sexual debut, and provide catch-up vaccination for those aged 9 to 18 (including those who missed the vaccination and older girls) in order to lower their risk of developing cervical cancer.
Since the 2019/20 school year, the DH has been providing HPV vaccinations to eligible primary school girls as part of the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme. The cumulative number of doses administered has exceeded 300 000. Based on the data on vaccination coverage rates from the School Immunisation Teams, it is projected that the coverage rate for completion of two doses of HPV vaccination among 15-year-old girls in Hong Kong has surpassed the high level of 90 per cent. Not only does this significantly exceed the 70 per cent interim target coverage rate for completion of HPV vaccinations for school girls as set out in the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy, but it has also achieved ahead of schedule the target of the WHO's Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination, i.e. 90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with HPV vaccine by the age of 15 before 2030. The catch-up programme was launched in response to the recommendations of the WHO and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the CHP to extend HPV vaccination coverage to older girls aged 18 or below.
Members of the public may visit the CHP's thematic webpage for more information about the HPV vaccination catchup programme, including vaccination venues.
* The recommended interval between the two doses of the HPV vaccine is at least five months.
Source: AI-found images
FEHD launches "Operation Thunderbolt" to combat rodent blackspots through proactive and precise rodent control work
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 12) said that, following the earlier launch of "Operation Skynet" to step up inspections and enforcement targeting food premises, public markets and shopping malls, the department further launched "Operation Thunderbolt" on November 4. Proactively targeting locations with more serious rodent infestation and higher risks, the operation traces rodent nests and main harbourage places along their activity paths, concentrates efforts on targeted rodent eradication, and adopts measures such as rodent trapping, application of rodenticides, and filling rat holes, with a view to swiftly suppressing the rodent population and consolidating effectiveness through source management.
"Operation Thunderbolt" adopts a risk-based and targeted deployment strategy. Integrating rodent activity data, frontline intelligence and actual rodent infestation conditions, the FEHD locks onto targeted locations, traces rodent nests and major aggregation sites along signs of activity such as rat holes and rodent pathways, and shifts from the past practice of focusing on trapping rodents at sighting locations to the further deployment of intensive rodent control measures specifically targeting their harbourage and breeding locations, thereby enhancing overall rodent control efficiency.
For venues managed by other government departments and individual private premises with more serious rodent infestation, taking into consideration public health, the FEHD will proactively intervene based on actual risks and needs, provide targeted rodent control support, and co-ordinate with relevant venue managers to take concerted action to bring the rodent infestation under control as soon as possible. However, the FEHD stressed that relevant venue managers still have to fulfil their own routine management responsibilities by adopting and implementing measures to control rodent infestations.
The focus of the first-phase operation includes high-risk locations such as parks, recreational facilities, green belts, slopes, as well as the rear lanes of restaurants and areas surrounding refuse collection points. Responding to rodent activity conditions, the FEHD will flexibly deploy rat traps and rodenticides, and arrange for overnight rodent control roving teams to step up rodent trapping and eradication during peak rodent activity hours. Upon completion of appropriate rodent control treatments, the department will fill rat holes and access passages, and clear food sources and harbourage places, with a view to more effectively combating rodent infestations.
Since the launch of the operation, the FEHD has conducted targeted inspections at 1 373 locations across the territory, including 1 171 venues under the management of other government departments, such as parks and recreational facilities. During the operation, 199 rat holes/rodent harbourage places were identified at these locations, 103 live rodents were captured and 51 dead rodents were collected, while rodent poisoning and filling of rat holes were completed at 92 locations.
At the same time, the FEHD has also been seriously following up on private premises with severe rodent infestations and monitoring the effectiveness of rodent control work. Regarding the 15 Notices of Elimination of Vermin issued earlier to the responsible persons of an industrial building and related premises on Shing Yip Street in Kwun Tong, follow-up inspections by the department revealed that rodent infestation persisted. The department therefore deployed the overnight rodent control teams to intervene and carry out targeted rodent control work, capturing over 50 rodents on the first night and identifying multiple rodent harbourage places. Anti-rodent operations targeting these harbourage places are still ongoing. The department will consider instituting prosecution against the persons in charge under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), and recovering the expenses incurred by the department in conducting vermin elimination work.
Considering that some rodents may die in rodent nests or other concealed locations and might not be discovered and counted immediately, the FEHD will comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of "Operation Thunderbolt" through methods such as tracing and handling active rat holes, monitoring changes in rodent activity, and conducting post-treatment follow-up checks. The department will also adjust its deployment in a timely manner to more effectively control rodent infestations.
"Operation Thunderbolt" focuses on both swift rodent eradication and prevention of recurring rodent infestations. The FEHD will collaborate with relevant government departments and venue managers to step up rodent control while urging all venue managers to continuously maintain proper daily cleanliness, rodent prevention, and facility maintenance. They will also be urged to improve arrangements regarding refuse and food waste handling, rat hole filling and contractor management in light of actual environmental conditions, so as to reduce food sources and harbourage places for rodents at source. The department will also continue to step up rodent prevention and control in public places under its purview, and combat littering and other environmental hygiene irregularities in accordance with the law.
The spokesman said, "While 'Operation Skynet' focuses on stepping up inspections and enforcement to urge food businesses and venue managers to fulfil their hygiene and rodent prevention responsibilities, 'Operation Thunderbolt' takes a further proactive approach by tracing rodent nests along their trails and concentrating efforts on rodent control targeting high-risk locations to suppress rodent infestation more rapidly. The two operations complement each other, reinforcing immediate control and enforcement while prompting venue managers to continuously improve daily management to reduce rodent infestations from the source."
The spokesman stressed that rodent prevention and control requires the joint efforts of all parties. The FEHD will continue to actively monitor, proactively intervene, provide professional support, and enforce the law stringently. In addition, all venue management departments, property management agents and business operators must continuously maintain proper daily cleanliness, rodent prevention and eradication, and source management by cutting off food sources, eliminating harbourage places and blocking access passages. Through precise rodent control to suppress infestation, coupled with sustained and effective venue management to prevent recurrence, a multi-pronged approach is adopted to consolidate and enhance overall prevention and control effectiveness.
Source: AI-found images
