As parents, the health of our children is our greatest concern. Recently, cases of young children contracting pneumonia have surged, with some severe cases requiring the removal of a lung or a kidney transplant to save their lives! Serotype 3 is currently the most threatening. To protect our children, we must understand the transmission routes of invasive pneumococcal disease and how the "new vaccine precisely targeting serotype 3" works to provide protection. Let's hear from paediatrician Dr. Chan Yan Wing immediately!
What is invasive pneumococcal disease?
Invasive pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniaeStreptococcus pneumoniae） causes various diseases after infection, commonly otitis media and sinusitis. Once it invades the meninges or bloodstream, it can lead to meningitis and septicaemia. Dr. Chan Yan-wing points out that young children's immune systems are not yet fully developed, making them particularly vulnerable to attack. "Infected children will undoubtedly suffer, but their long-term health can also be affected, with the worst-case scenario being death." According to data from the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong, invasive pneumonia cases are rapidly increasing, so parents should not be complacent!
Dr. Chan Yan-wing, Paediatrician, reminds parents that invasive pneumococcal disease can cause severe or even permanent harm to children, and that preventative measures should be taken to prevent it before it happens.
Cases surge: Enterovirus Type 3 becomes the main threat
According to the latest data from the Centre for Health Protection (May 2025), Hong Kong recorded 126 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in the whole of 2024, and 82 cases in the first four months of 2025, indicating a surge in the number of cases. In 2025, there were 16 paediatric cases, half of which (8 cases) were caused by pneumococcal serotype 3. Worryingly, serotype 3 has been the dominant strain in Hong Kong for many years, and its severity far exceeds other types.
An article in the Hong Kong Medical Journal noted that between June 2022 and March 2024, paediatric intensive care units in Hong Kong recorded six cases of severe invasive pneumococcal disease, five of which were caused by serotype 3.Dr Chen said: “What makes serotype 3 so dangerous is that it has developed resistance to antibiotics, making treatment more difficult; compared to other serotypes, it is also more virulent.Data shows that, on average, one in every 20 young paediatric patients dies, whilst the mortality rate for severe cases of serotype 3 can be as high as 47%.”
Does more vaccines mean better protection?
Getting vaccinated is a good way to protect children, but some parents think that the higher the number of vaccine doses, the stronger the protection. Dr. Chan points out that the following 3 points can be considered when choosing a vaccine:
Local predominant serotype distribution
Immune response to target serotypes of the vaccine
3) Vaccine safety and efficacy
Pneumococcal vaccine facts:
In Hong Kong, the Scientific Committee on Vaccines Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection, after reviewing scientific data, has confirmed that the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) elicits a stronger immune response against pneumococcal serotype 3 compared to the 13-valent vaccine (PCV13) and the 20-valent vaccine (PCV20), and can effectively prevent invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype 3. As a result, the Department of Health officially replaced the 13-valent vaccine with the 15-valent vaccine in the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme in August 2024.
If parents have concerns about their child's protection against serotype 3, they should consult a paediatrician as soon as possible.
Source: BabyKingdom 12-06-2025 https://bit.ly/4jMK93E
