Meningitis vaccine for infants available in HK soon: expert.

(From The Standard)

Byline: Matthew Lee

One in five Hong Kong children aged 6 and under is carrying a major meningitis-causing bacteria which has a 15 percent death rate, a pediatrics specialist said Tuesday.

Daniel Chiu said half the cases can also cause mental retardation and hearing loss.

A vaccine for infants is available overseas but will only be on the market in Hong Kong after the second half of this year, Chiu said. Emphasizing that the delay was ``unrelated to our government,'' Chiu cited ``a foreign administrative hiccup'' as the reason. According to a January 5 drug shortage bulletin on the American Society of Health System …