New 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for children

29 Nov 2011

A new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) will be provided free of charge to eligible children at the Department of Health (DH)'s Maternal and Child Health Centres under the Government's Childhood Immunisation Programme (CIP) from December 5, 2011, replacing the existing 10-valent vaccine (PCV10).

Children who have been receiving PCV10 can switch directly to PCV13. The immunisation schedule will remain unchanged, i.e., three primary doses at two, four and six months of age followed by one booster dose at 12 to 15 months.

A spokesman for DH said pneumococcus bacterium not uncommonly causes invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in young children, such as chest infection, blood stream infection and meningitis.

As no pneumococcal vaccine covers all known serotypes of pneumococci, the spokesman reminded members of the public to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to prevent infection. "Most pneumococcal infections can be treated effectively with antibiotics," the spokesman said.