Medical professionals and social organizations call for increased awareness of pneumococcal threat and strengthened preventative measures among high-risk individuals

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 10 September 2023 - Recent findings from a comprehensive survey conducted in Hong Kong have revealed an alarming lack of awareness about the pneumococcal vaccine, leaving more than half of the city's middle-aged and elderly population unprotected against this potentially deadly infection. Despite the established effectiveness of vaccination as a preventative measure against pneumococcal disease, the city's current vaccination rate is unsatisfactory. As the next generation of pneumococcal vaccines with broader serotype coverage becomes accessible in Hong Kong, international vaccination guidelines, including those from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have been updated to encompass the latest immunization recommendations. Hong Kong's medical and social welfare communities have come together to issue a joint appeal, urging the public to recognize the serious threat posed by pneumococcal disease. The appeal emphasizes the importance of preventive measures, particularly among high-risk individuals. Alarming low pneumococcal vaccination rate among high-risk elderly in Hong Kong "Pneumonia, predominantly triggered by pneumococcal disease, ranks as the second leading cause of death in Hong Kong," emphasized Dr Stanley Tam Kui-fu, President of the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society. "With pandemic prevention measures relaxing, we're seeing a resurgence of serious illnesses linked to pneumococcal infections back to pre-epidemic levels. The elderly, particularly those grappling with chronic diseases, are at a significant risk. Their likelihood of hospitalization due to pneumococcal pneumonia is more than ten times higher compared to those in the 18-49 age group." Mr. Chow Chun-man, Vice President of Hong Kong Respiratory Nursing College, concurred, noting that older adults are particularly susceptible to severe complications from pneumococcal disease. "Many elderly patients hospitalized due to pneumococcal infections require intensive care and mechanical ventilation, with many suffering from significant sequelae, including reduced lung function, even after discharge," he remarked. To address the less-than-ideal vaccination rate — currently only 40% of the elderly population have been vaccinated — The Hong Kong Alliance of Patients' Organizations partnered with the School of Nursing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to conduct a territory-wide survey through 90 trained elderly health ambassadors, inviting individuals aged 50 and above to answer questions about their knowledge of pneumococcus and their attitudes towards vaccination. This extensive outreach has successfully garnered over 2,000 completed surveys, providing a wealth of insightful data with highlights as follows:1. General public's knowledge of pneumococcal infection is limited, leading to oversight of the severe consequences it can bring.

• Few people pay attention to symptoms such as ear pain, mental confusion, and neck stiffness that may appear during pneumococcal infection, most focus only on symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

• Additionally, few people know that pneumococcus can also cause severe diseases such as meningitis and septicemia.

2. The ratio of total vaccinated population is low, mainly due to a lack of knowledge about the vaccine.

• Although the majority of people know that vaccination is an effective way to prevent pneumococcal infection, about half of the respondents have not been vaccinated.

• The primary reason for not getting vaccinated is "not knowing /do not have adequate knowledge about the pneumococcal vaccine". In addition, "lack of sufficient vaccine information" and "fear of vaccine side effects" are common reasons for not getting vaccinated.

• On the hand, about half of the people do not know where to get the pneumococcal vaccination, and they are unaware that...