‘Don’t blindly follow’ US changes to infant vaccines, Hong Kong tells parents

Hong Kong health authorities have warned parents not to “blindly follow” overseas changes to childhood immunisation schedules, including the flu and hepatitis B birth dose, after the US scaled back its routine vaccine recommendations for infants.The Health Department’s Centre for Health Protection issued the warning on Wednesday in response to a controversial overhaul by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Albert Au Ka-wing, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said Hong Kong disagreed with the American move and would not adopt it, particularly concerning the hepatitis B birth dose.“We do not agree with the US recommendation to delay or cancel routine hepatitis B vaccination for newborns,” Au told a radio programme.“Any public health policy must be based on scientific evidence and our own local epidemiological situation. Deviation from this path could pose a significant public health risk to the community.“The public should not blindly follow the practices of certain overseas countries or regions and develop unnecessary doubts about our own proven and effective Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme.”