XN000022-1972-08-15 — Page 9

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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.