Hong Kong authorities have defended the city’s childhood vaccination programme after the United States scaled back its immunisation recommendations, stressing that public health policies should not be “arbitrarily altered”.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Tuesday that all public health policies and medical recommendations had to be based on scientific evidence.
“Vaccination schedules should not be altered arbitrarily without reliable scientific data or medical research supporting such changes, in order to avoid posing significant and irreversible public health risks to children,” it said.
Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP), children from birth to Primary Six are required to receive vaccines and boosters against 11 diseases – tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations are also available for eligible primary school girls to prevent cervical cancer under the programme.
“Since delaying vaccinations reduces protection against relevant infectious diseases, the CHP reminds parents to arrange for their children to receive vaccinations in accordance with the HKCIP to ensure comprehensive and timely protection,” the centre said.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, recommending vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibodies, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal B, meningococcal ACWY, and dengue only for “certain high-risk groups or populations”.