9
Tuesday, August 15, 1972
He recalled that in the last epidemic of measles in Hong Kong
in the winter of 1966/67, of the 6,702 notified cases, there were no
less than 995 deaths due to complications.
In December, 1967, measles vaccine was first made available at
all government maternal and child health centres, and campaigns were
conducted annually since then.
Dr. Choa was glad the campaigns had helped to change the picture
since 1967, and in the past four years, statistics had droped to 3,734
cases and 84 deaths.
But that was not good enough. There still remained far too many
parents who were not aware of the risk of complications, and who were
not coming forward to have their children immunised.
He warned them the disease carried "a significant morbidity
and mortality rate" in other words, it caused a great amount of ill
health, and in some cases, death.
He assured parents that the vaccine was "perfectly safe and
effective." It was given in one single injection, but it might be necessary
to provide "a booster dose" in later years.
Dr. Choa described the disease as "the last childhood disease" still
eluding complete control in Hong Kong.
"We want to prevent it as far as possible so as to protect the life
of our young children," he said. "As with all the other communicable
diseases, we have to rely on the co-operation and common sense of parents to
bring their children forward to be immunised against it."
Dr. Choa's speech marked the beginning of the second week in the
department's current nine-week anti-measles campaign.
Note to Editors: Copies of the full text of Dr. Choa's speech, in
Chinese and English, are distributed separately in the G.I.S. Press boxes, later this evening.
Release Time: 6.30 p.m.