Tweet
Hong Kong, Leglislative Council Urgent Question1: Invasive pneumococcal disease (November 27 2013)
[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, full page: (LINK).]
Hong Kong, Leglislative Council Urgent Question1: Invasive pneumococcal disease
Following is an urgent question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki under Rule 24(4) of the Rules of Procedure and a reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
Question:
??The two successive fatal cases involving two children infected by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) last week have aroused public concern.
??After a meeting held on November 25, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and its Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health considered that a booster dose of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) among children under five years old who had received PCV7 or PCV10 was not required at this point in time.
??However the Government announced concurrently that it decided to subsidise, through the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, one booster dose each for children aged two to under five years old who had not previously received PCV13 (booster dose programme) and the details of the programme would be announced later.
??Some parents have said that these two pieces of news, which contain contrasting information concerning the need or otherwise for children to receive vaccination, have sent out confusing messages, which is not conducive to stabilising the epidemic and will also pose a serious threat to the health of children.
??In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
Reply:
??President,
??My reply to Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki's question is as follows:
(a) and (c)
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) and its Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination (Working Group) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) convened a joint meeting in the afternoon of November 25 in light of the two recent fatal cases of children infected with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). SCVPD and the Working Group have closely examined the global and local IPD situation, in particular the situation caused by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae. Based on the information currently available, the joint meeting considered that a booster dose of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) is not required at this point in time for children under 5 years old who had received 7-valent or 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines.
Taking into account the SCVPD's view together with concerns across the community and parents, and noting the SCVPD and other experts' views, the Government has decided to subsidise one booster dose through a vaccination subsidy scheme for children aged 2 to under 5 years old who have never received PCV13.
The Government aims to launch in December this year a PCV13 Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (the Subsidy Scheme), under which private doctors will provide a booster vaccine to children aged 2 to under 5 years old who have never received PCV13.
Implementation details of the Subsidy Scheme will be announced in due course. In parallel, the Government will step up dissemination of related information to the public, including information on the prevention of IPD and the effectiveness of PCV13 etc., to keep the public well informed.
All along, CHP has been maintaining an established notification and surveillance mechanism, and devises infectious disease prevention and infection control strategies in accordance with the gathered surveillance information and data.
The Government remains vigilant and monitors the latest developments of infectious diseases, and will convene relevant meetings when necessary to make timely reviews and adjustments to the surveillance mechanisms and prevention and control strategies in order to prevent the occurrence and spreading of epidemic to protect public health.
The Government has been implementing the following measures:
(b)
According to information provided by the pharmaceutical company, there is sufficient stock of PCV13 vaccine in Hong Kong at present, and more vaccines will be sent to Hong Kong next month. The Government is liaising with the vaccine supplier to ensure that there are sufficient vaccines to meet local needs.
Ends/Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:15
NNNN
-
-------
Hong Kong, Leglislative Council Urgent Question1: Invasive pneumococcal disease
Following is an urgent question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki under Rule 24(4) of the Rules of Procedure and a reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):
Question:
??The two successive fatal cases involving two children infected by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) last week have aroused public concern.
??After a meeting held on November 25, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and its Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health considered that a booster dose of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) among children under five years old who had received PCV7 or PCV10 was not required at this point in time.
??However the Government announced concurrently that it decided to subsidise, through the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, one booster dose each for children aged two to under five years old who had not previously received PCV13 (booster dose programme) and the details of the programme would be announced later.
??Some parents have said that these two pieces of news, which contain contrasting information concerning the need or otherwise for children to receive vaccination, have sent out confusing messages, which is not conducive to stabilising the epidemic and will also pose a serious threat to the health of children.
??In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
- (a) whether it will immediately publish clear guidelines to assist parents in deciding whether their children need to receive pneumococcal vaccination; if it will, of the contents of the guidelines; if not, the reasons for that;
- (b) whether it has put in place any immediate measures to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines by pharmaceutical manufacturers; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
- (c) when the booster dose programme will be implemented the soonest; whether the Government has put in place emergency measures to cope with an outbreak of invasive pneumococcal epidemic prior to the implementation of the booster dose programme; if it has, of the details, including the circumstances under which the Government will implement such measures; if not, how the Government can ensure that the epidemic will be under control?
Reply:
??President,
??My reply to Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki's question is as follows:
(a) and (c)
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) and its Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination (Working Group) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) convened a joint meeting in the afternoon of November 25 in light of the two recent fatal cases of children infected with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). SCVPD and the Working Group have closely examined the global and local IPD situation, in particular the situation caused by serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae. Based on the information currently available, the joint meeting considered that a booster dose of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) is not required at this point in time for children under 5 years old who had received 7-valent or 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines.
Taking into account the SCVPD's view together with concerns across the community and parents, and noting the SCVPD and other experts' views, the Government has decided to subsidise one booster dose through a vaccination subsidy scheme for children aged 2 to under 5 years old who have never received PCV13.
The Government aims to launch in December this year a PCV13 Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (the Subsidy Scheme), under which private doctors will provide a booster vaccine to children aged 2 to under 5 years old who have never received PCV13.
Implementation details of the Subsidy Scheme will be announced in due course. In parallel, the Government will step up dissemination of related information to the public, including information on the prevention of IPD and the effectiveness of PCV13 etc., to keep the public well informed.
All along, CHP has been maintaining an established notification and surveillance mechanism, and devises infectious disease prevention and infection control strategies in accordance with the gathered surveillance information and data.
The Government remains vigilant and monitors the latest developments of infectious diseases, and will convene relevant meetings when necessary to make timely reviews and adjustments to the surveillance mechanisms and prevention and control strategies in order to prevent the occurrence and spreading of epidemic to protect public health.
The Government has been implementing the following measures:
- Surveillance of Pneumococcus:
- DH has set up a laboratory surveillance system targeted at IPD for comprehensive surveillance of the local trend of IPD and changes in serotype replacement and antibiotic resistance, etc. This surveillance system covers all the microbiology laboratories in public and private hospitals in Hong Kong and therefore can provide comprehensive and detailed epidemiological data of IPD in Hong Kong.
- Control of Outbreaks:
- According to DH's guidelines on prevention of infectious diseases, schools or institutions that notice or suspect an outbreak of cases must make early notification to CHP. Upon receipt of notification, CHP will contact the schools and institutions, and as necessary conduct epidemiological investigation, inspection and medical surveillance, as well as provide professional advice on preventive and control measures and environmental hygiene.
- Publicity and Risk Communication:
- CHP has all along been monitoring the local epidemiological data on IPD. It has issued a letter to all doctors in Hong Kong to update them on the local situation of IPD and advise on medication, in order to remind them to stay alert of IPD and minimise the impact of disease.
- Free and Subsidised Vaccination Programmes:
- Parents should continue to have their new-born children vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations under the Childhood Immunisation Programme. Elders aged 65 or above who have never received a pneumococcal vaccination should receive one dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, and can receive it for free or with a subsidy under the Government Vaccination Programme or the Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme. Moreover, as preceding infection with influenza will lead to more severe complications caused by IPD, children aged 6 months and above should receive seasonal influenza vaccination unless there is contraindication.
- Public Education:
- The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene practices. The Government will strengthen its messages to the public on maintaining personal and environmental hygiene through a variety of means, including websites and health education material.
(b)
According to information provided by the pharmaceutical company, there is sufficient stock of PCV13 vaccine in Hong Kong at present, and more vaccines will be sent to Hong Kong next month. The Government is liaising with the vaccine supplier to ensure that there are sufficient vaccines to meet local needs.
Ends/Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:15
NNNN
-
-------