The Centre for Health Protection today announced that the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) will be provided to eligible children and seniors under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) and the Government Vaccination Programme (GVP) respectively from August 5.

The centre explained that PCV15 will be replacing the existing 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), with the aim of strengthening the immunity of children and the elderly against invasive pneumococcal disease.

Meanwhile, relevant immunisation schedules for children and high-risk individuals will remain unchanged.

Under the HKCIP, children who have been receiving PCV13 can switch directly to PCV15 for their next dose. The immunisation schedule will remain unchanged - two primary doses given at 2 and 4 months of age - followed by a booster dose at 12 months.

Eligible children can receive free vaccinations according to schedule at the Department of Health’s Maternal & Child Health Centres.     

Under the GVP, eligible high-risk elderly people who have not received pneumococcal vaccines before will receive one dose of PCV15 followed by one dose of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) a year after. The immunisation schedule will remain unchanged.

For those who have already received a dose of PCV13, they will receive a dose of 23vPPV one year after the previous dose of PCV13, and do not require revaccination with PCV15.

In addition, subsidised PCV15 and 23vPPV will continue to be provided to the elderly aged 65 or above under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS).

In 2023-24, the total doses of pneumococcal vaccine (PV) administered under the GVP and the VSS are about 56,200 and 53,700 respectively. Under the two government vaccination programmes, about 684,000 elderly people aged 65 or above have already received at least one dose of PV, with an overall coverage rate of 41.8%.