Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has warned that altering childhood vaccination schedules without scientific evidence poses “severe and irreversible health risks” to children. The agency urged parents to follow the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) to maintain the city’s low levels of infectious diseases, according to a statement released Tuesday.
Scientific Basis of the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme
The HKCIP provides immunization for infants through Primary Six students to prevent tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella. The program also includes human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for eligible primary schoolgirls to prevent cervical cancer.
CHP Controller Edwin Tsui Lok-kin stated that recommendations are developed by the CHP’s Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases from a public health perspective. Tsui noted that these efforts helped eradicate smallpox globally in 1980 and eliminate poliomyelitis in Hong Kong by 2000. Measles and rubella were subsequently eliminated in the city in 2016 and 2021, respectively.
Did you know? Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among pre-school children in Hong Kong is 99%. For those born after the universal program began in 1988, the prevalence of the disease has dropped below 1%, according to the CHP.
Global Debate Over Vaccination Schedules
The CHP’s warning coincides with a global dispute over vaccine timing. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently defended science-based immunization schedules after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the number of recommended childhood vaccinations and split the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shots in the United States.
The US order aligns with goals from Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., who has questioned vaccine safety. However, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević told a press briefing in Geneva that vaccination timing is based on over 60 years of research. Jašarević stated that schedules are determined by extensive scientific reviews of the immune system’s development and when individuals are most vulnerable to specific diseases.
Comparative Vaccine Outcomes
The impact of strict adherence to schedules is evident in Hong Kong’s recent data. The CHP reported that consistently high vaccine uptake has prevented imported measles cases over the last two years from causing significant local transmission, preserving the city’s measles-eliminated status.
Digital Shift: e-Consent for School Vaccinations
The CHP is updating administrative processes for the 2026-27 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach Programme. Starting Monday, parents can submit e-consent forms via the eHealth mobile application for their children to receive seasonal influenza vaccinations (SIV).
According to the CHP, the electronic system aims to provide four primary benefits:
- Simplifying the form-filling process for parents.
- Reducing administrative burdens for schools.
- Lowering administrative work for healthcare providers.
- Advancing vaccination activities.
Participating schools will receive specific QR codes starting Wednesday, which parents can use to access the e-consent forms beginning Monday. The CHP will announce further details regarding eligible groups and vaccination venues for the 2026-27 program in due course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a child’s vaccination is delayed?
According to the CHP, delaying vaccinations reduces the child’s protection against relevant infectious diseases.
Which vaccines are provided to primary schoolgirls under the HKCIP?
The program provides human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to eligible primary schoolgirls to prevent cervical cancer.
How do parents provide consent for the 2026-27 influenza program?
Parents can use the eHealth mobile application to submit an e-consent form via a school-specific QR code.
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