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Thursday, September 14, 1972
ANTI-MEASLES VACCINATION FIGURES STILL VERY POOR"
Figures released by the Medical and Health Department today show
that 1,611 doses of anti-measles vaccine were administered during the fifth
week of the current nine-week campaign.
Of the total, 257 doses were administered to children on the Island,
799 in Kowloon, and 555 in the New Territories.
Since the campaign began on August 8, the number of children
immunised now stands at 8,375.
"The figure is " or, and nothing is gained by pretending that we
are happy with the results achieved," said Dr. J.K. Craig, Acting Director of
Medical and Health Services.
He estimated that of the 340,000 children in the nine-months-to-five-
years age group, about 50 per cent are susceptible, having neither suffered
from the disease nor been immunised against it, and the message to have them
protected is primarily addressed to their parents.
Unless these children are immunised, there is still the possibility of
a measles epidemic.
"May I repeat once more that although measles is a common disease, it
remains the last major childhood infectious disease that we have to bring under
control in Hong Kong," Dr. Craig said, "We want to prevent it as far as possible
to protect our young children from disability and possible death which may follow
an attack of measles."
He reminded