The Department of Health today said that there is no association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emphasising that all public health policies and medical advice must be based on scientific evidence.

The department was responding to a media enquiry regarding the use of pharmaceutical products containing acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol by pregnant women.

The department also said that preventing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B through immunisation is the cornerstone of hepatitis B control in Hong Kong, noting that the Government will closely monitor relevant scientific evidence and developments locally and internationally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently issued a statement, indicating that there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to conclude that paracetamol use during pregnancy causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders in children, or that there is any association between the two.

Furthermore, several drug regulatory authorities, including those in the European Union, the UK, Australia and Canada, have emphasised that based on rigorous assessments of existing scientific data, paracetamol remains an important option for pregnant women to relieve pain or fever when clinically indicated and under medical advice.

​As high fever in pregnant women may pose risks to the foetus' life and health, pregnant women shall follow their doctor's recommendations. Healthcare professionals will conduct assessments based on the mother's health condition and prescribe necessary medicines, which may include paracetamol at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.

The Department of Health emphasised that pregnant women should exercise caution when taking medicines, particularly in the first trimester. Before using any medicines, they should consult healthcare professionals or follow medical advice.

There are about 700 registered medicines in Hong Kong containing paracetamol. According to the department’s record, no reports have been received so far linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism in children.

The department will closely monitor safety recommendations and research findings from other international health authorities and drug regulatory authorities regarding the use of various medicines, and to take appropriate follow-up actions as necessary.

As regards hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, according to the WHO's recommendations, receiving the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and completing the three-dose series as scheduled are crucial to preventing infection and reducing the public health burden of hepatitis B.

The younger the age of acquiring the infection, the higher the risk of developing chronic hepatitis B (CHB). If a newborn is infected, there is up to a 90% possibility of developing CHB, which is the primary cause of liver cancer, cirrhosis, and liver failure among the population in Hong Kong.

Since 1988, the universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme has been implemented in Hong Kong. The current vaccination coverage rate among pre-school children has reached 99%.

According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, prevalence of hepatitis B among those aged under 35 has dropped below 1%, reflecting Hong Kong's successful progress towards realising the goal of "hepatitis B-free generation".

The provision of hepatitis B vaccination to newborns has been instrumental in this achievement, the Department of Health said, noting that any proposal to delay newborn immunisations would pose irreversible and significant public health risks to the community.

The Government will closely monitor the local and international development related to hepatitis B, and will promulgate the Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2025 – 2030 this year to further alleviate the public health burden of viral hepatitis.