PCV-7 meets the cost-effectiveness criteria set by the World Health Organisation, as we showed in a study, 'Assessment of cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine using a pharmacoeconomic model'. In March the WHO recommended that PCV-7 be included in all national childhood immunisation programmes - this recommendation has since been adopted by 17 countries, including the US, Britain, Canada and Australia. In line with these countries, I believe that PCV-7 should be made compulsory within the Hong Kong childhood immunisation programme. To achieve eradication of S. pneumonia-associated illnesses, every child must be immunised.

According to a recent study by the University of Hong Kong, from 2000 to 2005, 526 children aged five or younger were admitted to public hospitals with pneumococcal pneumonia, septicemia or meningitis - of these children, 10 died from complications of their S. pneumonia infection. These 10 deaths were potentially preventable. Moreover, these statistics most likely underestimate the true burden of S. pneumonia disease in Hong Kong. We have no data to tell us the number of infected children who were managed within the outpatient setting or who received treatment from private hospitals.

Childhood immunisation and the eradication of communicable diseases fall under the mandate of public health systems and it would be irresponsible of governments to ignore new medicines that make a significant difference to improving community health. With this in mind, I suggest that the Hong Kong childhood immunisation programme - which has barely been revised since its launch in 1960 - is due for a timely review. Currently, government spending on vaccination is as low as HK$29 per person.

We live in a world of emerging infectious illnesses and non-communicable diseases that are a challenge to control and treat - it would be foolish not to seize an opportunity to rid our society of diseases that are preventable.

Professor Kenneth K. C. Lee, professor and associate director (external affairs), School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Effective form of medicine

Your correspondent Kwan Yun-ming, 'Opting for traditional Chinese medicine could be dangerous' (September 22), neglected the simplest aspect of scientific analysis and that is being objective.

There have been extensive studies which illustrate the healing power of traditional Chinese medicines.

Even doctors in western medicine have, in some cases, found such treatment more effective than western medication.

These studies on traditional Chinese medicine, have been carried out in laboratory conditions and are based on universally-agreed scientific methods.

Yu Hoi-bun, Tai Po

We cannot save all monuments

There have been a number of heated debates on whether or not certain historical monuments should be preserved in Hong Kong.

I do not think it can be denied that these monuments are significant in an historical sense. For many people they are part of the collective memory of Hong Kong.

They are evidence of how we lived in the past.

However, as the economic development of Hong Kong continues, it is sometimes necessary to demolish these buildings.

I do not think we should be blindly opposing the demolition of every one of these surviving monuments, because of subjective sentiments.

We may not be able to save a building, if it is getting in the way of the development of Hong Kong's economy.

You can have your own memories of an old building and what it meant to you, even if that building no longer physically exists.

Mere physical existence is meaningless.

After all, spiritual sentiments are the most important and long lasting.

Sara Fung Man-chi, Sha Tin

Deafening silence

It used to be that if a letter appeared in the South China Morning Post it was guaranteed a response from the relevant body.

That doesn't seem to happen anymore. You published my letter regarding the large number of coaches idling their engines right next to a sports field ('Idling engines add to pollution', September 18). I asked the 'relevant authorities' whether idling for hours on end was appropriate next to where people exercise and to the police, if waiting at that spot (the road leading to Ocean Park) was legal? The silence was deafening.

Do I take it then that the government and the police no longer feel compelled to deal with taxpayers' concerns? In light of the two sports events cancelled last week due to pollution I ask again for the relevant government departments to respond to my letter and let us all know whether 10 coaches a day idling for three to five hours at a time, seven days a week next to sports grounds is good for Hong Kong's pollution.

Gareth Jones, Sheung Wan

Stick to markets

Your correspondent Francoise La Toison ('Polystyrene trays a waste', September 22) wonders why supermarkets use so many polystyrene trays.

The answer, in my bitter experience, is that they can get away with selling fruit and vegetables by concealing their blemishes. On Friday, I bought a pack of Chinese pears from ParknShop in Hong Lok Yuen. When I unpacked them at home, half of them were spoiled. My advice would be buy your fruit loose from the markets where you can inspect items closely.

Of course, the rate at which Hong Kong's markets are disappearing means that very soon, we'll have no choice but to buy slimy lettuce leaves and green strawberries from Hong Kong's undeserving duopoly.

Was that the plan all along?

Debbie Barnes, The Peak

Pointless ban

Well said Adam Wright, 'Liquid assets missing at venue' (Outtakes, September 20).

It is most frustrating that after having paid a fortune for a concert ticket and a hefty amount for a cold beer, you are not permitted to enjoy them together - as you can almost everywhere else in the world.

It is worth bearing in mind the effect a sober crowd has on the visiting bands, too. I suspect Robert Smith was alluding to the motionless crowd in front of the stage when he referred to having just played 'the longest gig of our lives' towards the end of the Cure show at the AsiaWorld-Arena.

It would be a shame if Hong Kong earned itself a reputation as a boring place to play simply because of the prissiness of the powers-that-be.

Brian Hart, Sai Kung