NK Leung

The Advisory Committee on Immunisation recommend immunisation against tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B for all infants and children in Hong Kong. Because immunisation is available free of charge in all public hospitals, maternal and child centres, and primary schools, the coverage has been high, above 90% for most vaccines.

The incidence of infectious diseases has fallen steadily the past three to four decades. Diphtheria and poliomyelitis have disappeared. Tetanus rarely occurred in children. The number of cases of pertussis notified has been small. About 150 cases of tuberculosis occurred in children annually. An outbreak of measles occurred in 1988. The addition of second dose of measles vaccine may prevent further outbreaks. Congenital rubella occurred primarily in the offsprings of pregnant women without previous rubella immunisation. Fewer cases of mumps occurred in children. Immunisation of all infants against hepatitis B will hopefully eliminate the vertical transmission of the virus from their mothers, 11% of them being carriers of hepatitis B. As more vaccines become available, future immunisation programme may include vaccines against varicella, hepatitis A, diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory tract infections.