Hong Kong to End Free Hepatitis A Vaccinations for MSM as Outbreak Contained
On.cc · 5 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Centre for Health Protection announced on August 12 that a free hepatitis A vaccination program for men who have sex with men (MSM) will be discontinued on September 12, after successfully containing a cluster outbreak that began in late 2023. The program, launched on March 12, vaccinated more than 280 MSM individuals following the detection of 24 genetically linked cases during a six-month period. Recent surveillance data shows hepatitis A infections have returned to baseline levels, with no new linked cases recorded since June.
Key Points
- The free vaccination program for MSM will end on September 12, with the appointment platform closing on September 11
- Hong Kong recorded 24 hepatitis A cases with identical viral gene sequences from September 2023 to February 2024
- Among the 24 cases involving 22 men and 2 women, over 60% reported being men who have sex with men
- The Centre vaccinated 280 MSM individuals by July 31 using a two-dose regimen at designated clinics
- Monthly infections fell from 15 cases in January to 5 in June and just 2 in July, returning to baseline levels
- Epidemiological surveillance shows recent cases aged 21 to 83, with only 3 reporting as MSM in the past two months
- Gene analysis confirms no new cases since June share the same viral sequence as the earlier cluster
- Individuals who received their first dose but cannot complete the second dose before September 12 will receive individual notification from the Centre
Why It Matters
The termination of this targeted vaccination program demonstrates the effectiveness of Hong Kong's rapid public health response in containing hepatitis A transmission within a specific community, setting a precedent for managing similar outbreaks through swift intervention and targeted immunisation campaigns .
The termination of this targeted vaccination program demonstrates the effectiveness of Hong Kong's rapid public health response in containing hepatitis A transmission within a specific community, setting a precedent for managing similar outbreaks through swift intervention and targeted immunisation campaigns .