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Expert Group Meetings/ Publications

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When Infection Destabilises CKM:
A Primary Care Call to Action
推動糖心腎抗感染策略交流會

29 April 2026

Organised by The Coalition for Infection Prevention in Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome (糖心腎抗感染聯盟)

Sponsored by GSK

Introduction

This meeting aimed to foster collaboration among healthcare professionals, patient organisations, and key stakeholders to address the pressing need for comprehensive approaches in vaccination and infection prevention for high-risk groups, including individuals with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and renal conditions.

Participants

Name Specialty Role
Dr Paul Lee Specialist in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Chair
Prof Ivan Hung Specialist in Infectious Diseases Speaker
Prof Sydney Tang Specialist in Nephrology Speaker
Dr Jane Chan Specialist in Respiratory Medicine
President of HKCMA		 Attendee
Prof Martin Wong Specialist in Family Medicine Attendee
Dr Sunny Luk President, HK Doctors Union Attendee
Representative from Care For Your Heart (關心您的心), Hong Kong H.E.A.R.T. Club （香港心康會）, Alliance for Renal Patients Mutual Help Association (腎友聯), Angel of Diabetic（糖尿天使）, HK Stroke Association （新健社） Attendee

Programme Rundown

時間 時長 內容 講者
19:00 – 19:10 10分鐘 開幕及會議簡介 聯盟成員
19:10 – 19:30 20分鐘 演講 #1：
香港帶狀疱疹及 RSV 疫苗接種現況		 講者：
感染及傳染病科專科 孔繁毅教授
19:30 – 19:50 20分鐘 演講 #2：
帶狀疱疹及 RSV 對慢性疾病患者的風險與併發症		 講者：
腎病科專科 鄧智偉教授
19:50 – 20:20 30分鐘 討論 #1：
RSV 疫苗接種的主要挑戰、患者的疑慮；探討可行方案		 主持：
內分泌及糖尿科專科 李智豪醫生 及全體參與者
20:20 – 20:50 30分鐘 討論 #2：
接種的主要挑戰、障礙及患者的疑慮		 主持：
內分泌及糖尿科專科 李智豪醫生 及全體參與者
20:50 – 21:00 10分鐘 閉幕及總結 聯盟成員

Photos

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Meeting Outcome

Hong Kong needs a coherent prevention pathway embedded within chronic-disease management. The CKM framework offers a practical starting point because it brings together the patients most likely to experience both infection and its downstream consequences. By combining risk-based clinical assessment, brief primary care interventions, clear access pathways, patient-group partnerships and carefully evaluated financing, infection prevention can move from an optional conversation to a measurable component of high-quality CKM care. A conjoint paper is in the works to sammarise the literature and the key messages.

專家小組會議
Expert Group Meetings/ Publications

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Expert Roundtable on
Strengthening COVID-19 Vaccination in Hong Kong

31 March 2026

Organised by HKCMA
Sponsored by Moderna

Introduction

HKCMA organised this roundtable to bring together leading clinicians and public health experts to review the current status of COVID-19 vaccination in Hong Kong and identify strategies to support and strengthen the government’s vaccination programme and uptake among vulnerable, high-risk populations, where the majority of the burden lies.

Participants

Name Specialty Role
Dr Jane Chan Specialist in Respiratory Medicine President of HKCMA (chair)
Dr Chris Hui Specialist in Respiratory Medicine Vice-president of HKCMA (chair)
Prof Ivan Hung Specialist in Infectious Diseases Speaker
Dr Mike Kwan Specialist in Paediatrics Speaker
Prof Martin Wong Specialist in Family Medicine Speaker
Prof So Ho Specialist in Rheumatology Attendee
Dr Godwin Leung Specialist in Cardiology, Immediate Past President of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology Attendee
Prof David Lui Specialist in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Attendee
Dr Stanley Tam Specialist in Geriatrics, President of the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society Attendee

Programme Rundown

Time Title Lead/Participant
7:30-7:45 Welcome, introduction and objectives of meeting Dr Jane Chan
7:45-8:15 Evidence review – Current status of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination in Hong Kong:  
Impact of COVID-19 on chronic disease patients Prof Ivan Hung
Vaccination effectiveness and safety updates Dr Mike Kwan
Attitudes and challenges of COVID vaccination in Hong Kong Prof Martin Wong
8:15-9:10 Expert discussion: All, led by Dr Jane Chan and Dr Chris Hui
Challenges for COVID-19 vaccination programme
Learnings and best practice from other countries / regions
Practical ways to strengthen COVID-19 vaccination programme in vulnerable populations
9:10-9:25 Confirmation of key focus areas to strengthen COVID-19 vaccination programme in HK
9:25-9:30 Closing Dr Jane Chan

Meeting Outcome

The meeting addressed the latest epidemiology and burden of COVID-19 and reviewed evidence on vaccine effectiveness and safety and insights into knowledge and attitudes around COVID-19 vaccination. It also included a focused discussion session to gather expert insights and develop practical, evidence-based recommendations to enhance accessibility and increase vaccine uptake among vulnerable populations.

專家小組會議
Expert Group Meetings/ Publications

e-20260319

Pneumococcal Disease Prevention:
Aligning Epidemiology with Clinical Practice

19 March 2026

Organised by MSD

Introduction

A multidisciplinary expert roundtable was convened to review the evolving epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Hong Kong, assess advances in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), and discuss strategies to strengthen prevention among high-risk populations. Key themes included post–COVID-19 epidemiologic patterns, persistent serotype challenges, unmet needs in high-risk adults, and opportunities to improve vaccination uptake. Participants included leading specialists and researchers from respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, microbiology, paediatrics, nephrology, and family medicine, and an invited overseas expert to provide global context and emerging evidence on the newer PCVs.

Participants

NameSpecialtyRole
Dr Jane CHANSpecialist in Respiratory MedicinePresident of HKCMA, Chair
Dr Jacky CHANSpecialist in Infectious DiseasesSpeaker
Dr Thomas FILESpecialist in Infectious DiseasesSpeaker
Dr Herbert KWOKSpecialist in Respiratory MedicineSpeaker
Dr Jonathan AUSpecialist in RheumatologyAttendee
Dr Wai Hung CHANSpecialist in PaediatricsAttendee
Dr Samuel FUNGSpecialist in NephrologyAttendee
Prof Ellis HONSpecialist in PaediatricsAttendee
Prof Patrick IPSpecialist in PaediatricsAttendee
Prof Christopher LAISpecialist in MicrobiologyAttendee
Dr Bing LAMSpecialist in Respiratory MedicineAttendee
Prof Cindy LAMSpecialist in Family MedicineAttendee
Prof Ting Fan LEUNGSpecialist in PaediatricsAttendee
Dr Kin Wang TOSpecialist in Respiratory MedicineAttendee

Programme Rundown

TimeTopicSpeaker/ Moderator
19:05Welcome and IntroductionDr Jane Chan
19:20Post-COVID Pneumococcal Epidemiology: What has changed?Dr Jacky Chan
19:40Advances in Adult Pneumococcal Vaccination: Evidence from Recent Clinical and Real-world DataProf Thomas File
20:05Unmet Needs in Adult Pneumococcal Prevention: A Clinical Perspective from Respiratory PracticeProf Herbert Kwok
20:25Q&A, Panel DiscussionAll, moderated by Dr Jane Chan
20:55Closing RemarksDr Jane Chan

Meeting Outcome

A summary of the meeting is as follows:

Evolving Epidemiology and Serotype Distribution in Hong Kong

Participants noted that invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence has been trending back towards pre-pandemic levels following relaxation of COVID-19 public health measures.  Serotype 3 remains a leading contributor to disease burden, while serotypes 15A and 23A are increasingly observed, but not yet covered by currently available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). The burden of adult pneumonia remains substantial despite long-standing paediatric immunization programmes. Differences in serotype distribution between paediatric and adult populations were highlighted, reinforcing the need for adult-focused vaccination strategies supported by ongoing surveillance and real-world evidence.  The discussion underscored the importance of aligning pneumococcal vaccination strategies with local epidemiology.

Persistent Vulnerability in High-Risk Populations

Adults with chronic medical conditions remain particularly vulnerable to pneumococcal disease and severe outcomes.  Individuals with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, kidney disease, and multiple comorbidities were considered at particularly elevated risk of hospitalization and complications. The discussion emphasized that age alone may not adequately capture risk, as younger adults with significant comorbidities can have risk comparable to or even exceeding that of older adults.  A risk-based approach prioritizing individuals with multiple chronic conditions was therefore viewed as essential to improving prevention.

Low Vaccine Uptake Remains a Key Challenge

Pneumococcal vaccine uptake among at-risk adults in Hong Kong was considered suboptimal, commonly estimated at below 40%. Barriers identified included affordability, limited access, low awareness of pneumococcal disease risk, vaccine hesitancy, operational constraints in clinical settings, and uncertainty regarding eligibility criteria. Improving uptake was viewed as requiring coordinated actions across clinical practice and broader health-system stakeholders. Clearer guidance, strong healthcare professional recommendations, supportive policy measures, and patient education were identified as important drivers of improved vaccination coverage.

Future Directions for Pneumococcal Disease Prevention

Strengthening pneumococcal prevention in Hong Kong was viewed as requiring a coordinated, evidence-based approach. Continued epidemiologic surveillance, real-world evidence generation, and local cost-effectiveness analyses were identified as important to inform policy decisions. Practical levers to increase uptake included expanding subsidies, strengthening primary care engagement, involving nurses and pharmacists in vaccine delivery, and improving public awareness. Simplifying vaccination pathways and improving identification of high-risk patients were also highlighted as priorities to support timely protection.

Conclusion

The discussion reinforced that pneumococcal disease remains a meaningful public health concern in Hong Kong and that prevention strategies should reflect evolving epidemiology and clinical risk.  High-risk groups continue to experience substantial vulnerability, adult vaccine uptake remains low, and broader serotype coverage is increasingly relevant. Next-generation vaccines may play a meaningful role in addressing current gaps and supporting a more effective, epidemiology-driven pneumococcal prevention strategy in Hong Kong.

專家小組會議
Expert Group Meetings/ Publications

e-20250913

Expert Dialogue on
Pneumococcal Disease Prevention in COPD patients

13 September 2025

Organized by HKCMA
Sponsored by Pfizer Hong Kong

Introduction

At this meeting, infectious disease specialists, pulmonologists and microbiologists discussed the evolving landscape of pneumococcal disease prevention in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). At the meeting, a group of experts collectively offered insights into local practices and discussed ways to improve the current standards of care for preventing pneumococcal diseases in patients with respiratory issues, particularly those with COPD.

Participants

NameSpecialtyRole
Prof Mary IpEmeritus Professor, Respiratory Medicine, HKUChair
Prof Ivan HungChair Professor of Infectious Disease – HKUSpeaker
Prof Margaret IpChairperson of Department of Microbiology, CUHKSpeaker
Dr Chun-kong NgRespiratory Specialist, Queen Elizabeth HospitalSpeaker
Dr Jane ChanRespiratory Specialist, President of HKCMAAttendee
Dr Fanny KoHead of Clinical Respiratory Medicine CUHK, Scientific Committee of GINAAttendee
Dr David LamChief of Respiratory Medicine, HKUAttendee
Dr Ada LinInfectious Disease Specialist, Co-chair ISAAR 2026Attendee

Programme Rundown

Time (HKT)TopicSpeaker/ Moderator
7:00 pm – 7:05 pmOpening and IntroductionChairperson: Prof Mary Ip
7:05 pm – 7:25 pmSession 1: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pneumococcal Disease (GOLD Guidelines)Dr Fanny Ko
7:25 pm – 7:50 pmDiscussion 1All (Moderated by Chairperson)
7:50 pm – 8:05 pmSession 2: Global (including HK) IPD Disease Burden & Prevention StrategiesProf Ivan Hung
8:05 pm – 8:35 pmDiscussion 2All (Moderated by Chairperson)
8:45 pm – 9:05 pmSession 3: Clinical and microbiological insights converge on COPD Pneumococcal Prevention 
Subtopic: Decoding Pneumococcus: Strains, Diagnostics, and VaccinesProf Margaret Ip
Subtopic: Preventing pneumococcal pneumonia in COPD patients. Can we do better?Dr Chun-kong Ng
9:05 pm – 9:35 pmDiscussion 3All (Moderated by Chairperson)
9:35 pm – 9:40 pmSummary and Closing ChairpersonChairperson

Meeting Outcome

Individuals with chronic diseases, including COPD, are at significant risk of pneumococcal infection. PCV vaccination can provide significant protection against CAP in COPD patients, reduce the likelihood of a COPD exacerbation. Raising public and physician awareness and enhancing vaccine accessibility are measures to overcome barriers and improve pneumococcal vaccination uptake.

A summary of the contents of this meeting has been published in our April 2026 e-Bulletin.

Issue 07 | APR 2026

專家小組會議
Expert Group Meetings/ Publications