Which Vaccines Do Trinity Offer?
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
The MMR vaccine offers protection against three serious diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (hence the abbreviation). They are highly infectious illnesses and can quickly spread to people that have not been vaccinated against them.
Another reason to get the MMR vaccine is that those three conditions can lead to serious health problems like meningitis and hearing loss. What’s more, it can also cause complications in pregnant women.
Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine
Similar to the MMR vaccine, the MMRV Vaccine provides additional protection against varicella, also known as chickenpox as well. Measles can cause complications such as otitis media, bronchitis, and encephalitis. Mumps can cause hearing loss and inflammation of the ovaries or testicles; rubella can cause arthritis, encephalitis, and conjunctivitis.
Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV13)
Pneumonia is one of the top three killers in Hong Kong. In fact, many flu patients died because of pneumonia. For chronically ill patients, pneumonia is a “death blow”. Pneumococcus often hides in the nasal cavity, and when the body’s immunity is weakened (such as a cold), it will take the opportunity to invade. Pneumococcal disease can cause serious invasive diseases including meningitis, bacteremic pneumonia, hemolytic uremic disease, and non-invasive diseases such as acute otitis media and sinusitis. People who are chronically ill or immunocompromised are three times more likely to die from pneumococcal infection than healthy individuals.
Shingles Vaccine
Shingles, commonly known as herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash produced by the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus) reactivating in persons who have had chickenpox previously.
Influenza Vaccine
Seasonal influenza is a respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses. The virus can usually be transmitted through respiratory droplets and aerosols and has an incubation period of 1-4 days. The onset of symptoms is abrupt, and the initial symptoms are mostly non-specific, including lack of energy/fatigue, Runny nose, headache, cough, fever and sore throat, etc. In Hong Kong, seasonal influenza is generally more prevalent from January to March and July to August. The vaccine is suitable for those who are 6 months old or above. It can effectively protect against infection by influenza viruses.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in Hong Kong and is most commonly caused by HPV16 and 18. The HPV vaccine (9 in 1) covers 9 virus types, including HPV6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. Cancer and its lesions caused by these 9 types of viruses can also be prevented, including cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, anal cancer, and genital warts (cauliflower).
The disease that the HPV virus can cause is not limited to women, both men and women who have sexual experience can be infected. Furthermore, women who are infected with HPV can potentially infect their newborn babies during childbirth.