Press Releases

SFH on invasive pneumococcal infection

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme this morning (November 23):

Reporter: (On recent fatal cases of invasive pneumococcal infection affecting children)

Secretary for Food and Health: I am very concerned about two recent cases of invasive pneumococcal infection (caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumonia) leading to fatal outcome in children. In this regard, the expert committee (the Working Group on Pneumococcal Vaccination under the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases) of the Centre for Health Protection has advanced its meeting to early December. The experts therein will analyse the available clinical epidemiological data (of invasive pneumococcal infection), examine the supply of new vaccines and then make a recommendation to the Government.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)

Ends/Saturday, November 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:59

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