Covid rearing ugly head in care clusters

Adelyn Lau

Covid-19 is on the rise in Hong Kong, with small-scale cross-infections reported in hospitals and care homes, according to the University of Hong Kong pediatric expert Lau Yu-lung.

Lau said yesterday he believes the most important factor is analyzing the underlying causes, which he suggests are mainly related to personal and environmental hygiene.

Pharmaceutical companies, he said, have developed vaccines targeting variant strains such as JN.1 and KP.2, which the government is expected to acquire by the end of the year.

"However, the public health impact of these vaccines may not be significant, and individuals in high-risk groups may still consider getting vaccinated six months after their previous jab," Lau said.

If individuals pay better attention to hygiene and take personal responsibility, he said, the benefits may be better than chasing vaccines targeting new variants.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection is offering a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in its vaccination programs, replacing the current 13-valent vaccine, which covers fewer kinds of pneumococcal serotypes.

Infectious diseases specialist Wilson Lam Wai-shun said the new vaccine could trigger a better immune response and cover more serotypes of the bacteria.

Lam, president of the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases, said PCV15 covers a broader range of serotypes compared to PCV13, with data showing the former elicits a better immune response against the more common and severe serotypes prevalent in the city.

The CHP said that children currently receiving PCV13 can switch to PCV15 for their next dose directly.

High-risk elders who have already received one dose of PCV13 should receive a dose of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine one year later, without needing another dose of the PCV15, it said.

Lam said that pneumococcal infections are more common in children, and protection through vaccination safeguards the elderly.

As such, those elderly who have received PCV13 may not necessarily need the PCV15 again, as the 23vPPV can extend protection to other serotypes.

Lam also highlighted that high-risk individuals who are not vaccinated are at risk of complications, including otitis media, pneumonia and meningitis.