In his recent policy address, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said the government would incorporate the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into its childhood immunization program in the third quarter of next year.

The move will benefit about 70,000 newborns a year.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Hong Kong chapter of the Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal Disease Prevention, or ASAP, professor for pediatric infectious and tropical diseases at the University of the Philippines Lulu Bravo thanked the government for leading the way in Asia. She said vaccinations are the right of children.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Pneumococcal disease is the number one vaccine-preventable disease today," said Bravo, adding she is very grateful that Hong Kong has recognized the benefits of early vaccination.

"Asia is lagging behind Latin America in the fight against [this] disease. All [of the Asian] governments should be concerned."

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the pneumococcus bacterium and may lead to serious illness in children as well as adults.

Meningitis may occur when the bacterium invades the brain covering. Sinusitis and bacteremia are also other manifestations of the disease.

There are almost 100 known types of the disease, according to consultant pediatrician and convener of ASAP Aaron Yu Chak-man.

The vaccination would cover seven types, or about 90 percent of the most common disease types.

Other regions expected to follow in Hong Kong's footsteps are believed to be Macau, Singapore and Taiwan, according to Kenneth Lee Kwing-chin, professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong school of pharmacy.