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Hong Kong, Joint meeting of CHP Scientific Committee and Working Group to follow up on recent fatal cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (November 25 2013)
[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full page: (LINK).]
Joint meeting of CHP Scientific Committee and Working Group to follow up on recent fatal cases of invasive pneumococcal disease
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) and its Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination (WG) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a joint meeting this afternoon (November 25) to follow up on the recent fatal cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).
At the joint meeting, Members were highly concerned on the recent IPD cases caused by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in young children. Both the SCVPD and the WG have closely examined the global and local IPD situation, particularly that caused by serotype 3 pneumococcus.
Based on the information currently available, the meeting considered a booster dose of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) among children under 5 years old who had received PCV7/10 is not required at this point in time.
The joint meeting remarked that there was no evidence to suggest children who had received PCV7 or PCV10 were more susceptible to serotype 3 pneumococcus than those who had not. Members also considered that macrolides should not be the first line of treatment for community acquired pneumonia in children.
Taking into account the SCVPD's views together with concerns across the community and parents, and noting the SCVPD's view, the Government decided to subsidise one booster dose each for children aged 2 to under 5 years old who have never received PCV13 before through the CHP's Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. Details will be announced shortly.
In addition, as preceding infection with influenza will lead to more severe illnesses caused by IPD, Members were of the view that children aged six months and above should receive seasonal influenza vaccination unless there was contraindication.
The SCVPD and the WG also recommended enhancing education to healthcare professionals on the updated situation of IPD in Hong Kong. Members also appealed to the public to maintain good personal hygiene against respiratory tract infections including IPD and influenza.
Ends/Monday, November 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 22:27
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Joint meeting of CHP Scientific Committee and Working Group to follow up on recent fatal cases of invasive pneumococcal disease
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) and its Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination (WG) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a joint meeting this afternoon (November 25) to follow up on the recent fatal cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).
At the joint meeting, Members were highly concerned on the recent IPD cases caused by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) in young children. Both the SCVPD and the WG have closely examined the global and local IPD situation, particularly that caused by serotype 3 pneumococcus.
Based on the information currently available, the meeting considered a booster dose of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) among children under 5 years old who had received PCV7/10 is not required at this point in time.
The joint meeting remarked that there was no evidence to suggest children who had received PCV7 or PCV10 were more susceptible to serotype 3 pneumococcus than those who had not. Members also considered that macrolides should not be the first line of treatment for community acquired pneumonia in children.
Taking into account the SCVPD's views together with concerns across the community and parents, and noting the SCVPD's view, the Government decided to subsidise one booster dose each for children aged 2 to under 5 years old who have never received PCV13 before through the CHP's Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. Details will be announced shortly.
In addition, as preceding infection with influenza will lead to more severe illnesses caused by IPD, Members were of the view that children aged six months and above should receive seasonal influenza vaccination unless there was contraindication.
The SCVPD and the WG also recommended enhancing education to healthcare professionals on the updated situation of IPD in Hong Kong. Members also appealed to the public to maintain good personal hygiene against respiratory tract infections including IPD and influenza.
Ends/Monday, November 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 22:27
NNNN
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