A survey of 300 parents and teachers in Hong Kong found that nearly 60 per cent of parents believe invasive meningococcal disease is the same as a common cold. The Hong Kong Early Childhood Educators Association released the findings on Sunday, highlighting low vaccination rates ahead of summer travel.
Parents scored an average of 3.84 out of 10 on knowledge of the disease, while teachers scored 4.8. Seventy-eight per cent of parents had not vaccinated their children against meningococcal disease, and more than one-third were unaware that a vaccine exists.
Eighty-six per cent of respondents had travelled with their children in the past year. The most popular destinations were mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
Meningococcal disease is a rare but severe and life-threatening bacterial infection. It typically causes meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, and meningococcemia, a serious bloodstream infection, often both at once. Doctors have urged greater public awareness of the condition.