Norman Ng: The Journey of the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine
Norman Ng, Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Affairs at Healthcare Thinkers, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“A Tribute to the Advancement of Medical Research: The Journey of the RSV Vaccine
Almost 27 years ago, I was a vaccine product manager at one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing companies, where I was responsible for researching the market and epidemic of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Today, with the call of the Hong Kong Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Chinese Medical Association of Hong Kong Limited, the RSV vaccine is finally available, and we must work together to promote the importance of RSV vaccination to protect the health of high-risk groups.
At a press conference on March 31, 2025, doctors from different specialties came together to highlight the importance of RSV vaccination. RSV poses a serious health risk to infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. Local data show that the proportion of children under five years of age hospitalized with RSV infection is as high as 900 to 1,300 per 100,000 people, while seniors aged 75 and over face a hospitalization rate of 60 to 160 people.
Dr Lai pointed out that RSV can cause serious respiratory illnesses and vaccination is particularly important to protect these high-risk groups. According to a recent survey, 64.6% of respondents are willing to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine, reflecting the increasing acceptance of the vaccine in society.
Vaccine Successes and Challenges
At present, there are two single-dose RSV vaccines available in Hong Kong for people aged 60 and above, one of which is also approved for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to provide protection for the first six months of life. According to the data, most cases of RSV occur in infants under one year of age, and the condition can be further exacerbated by upper respiratory tract infection.
I am very pleased to see the importance of RSV vaccine in the medical community, and emphasise the importance of raising public awareness of RSV and willingness to get vaccinated. As Professor Wong Chi-sang said, future public health efforts should focus on raising awareness and clarifying misconceptions about RSV, as there is currently no antiviral treatment for RSV, and vaccination is becoming more and more important.
Looking to the future
The Hong Kong Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Chinese Medical Association of Hong Kong Limited have called for a cross-sector partnership to promote RSV vaccine to reduce the risk of severe respiratory diseases. Dr Tan Chun Kwong emphasised that education and universal access are essential to building a healthy society.”
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