According to the "Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme" under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, newborns born in Hong Kong up to Primary 6 students are required to receive free vaccinations and booster doses of various types of vaccines on schedule to prevent multiple common childhood infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and pneumococcus, etc.
Parents sometimes ask: are the types of vaccines available sufficient for their children? The types of childhood infectious diseases prevalent in Hong Kong vary by time and environment. Parents should discuss with their paediatrician to understand which additional vaccines are worthwhile/necessary for their children. Currently, apart from the vaccines included in the "Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme", vaccines that parents commonly opt for at their own expense include the rotavirus vaccine, the four-in-one vaccine (or chickenpox vaccine), and the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.
Taking the combined quadrivalent vaccine as an example, babies receive their first dose at 12 months of age and complete their second dose approximately three months later (i.e. at around 15 months);As for one of the oral rotavirus vaccines, infants can receive their first dose as early as six weeks after birth, followed by the second dose approximately four weeks later.As for the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, three doses are administered before the baby turns one, followed by a booster dose at around 18 months, which provides over 90% protection against the disease.
Parents who have any questions about the effectiveness, safety, and vaccination instructions of the vaccine can discuss them with their doctor.
