New domestic helpers coming to Hong Kong should be made to prove they are vaccinated against measles, health experts say
- Top microbiologist from University of Hong Kong says government must do more as number of measles cases reported in city already double the whole of 2018
- Private measles vaccine costs HK$300 to HK$600 – impossible for helpers to afford, says Dr Ho Pak-leung, but labour chief rules out subsidised vaccinations
New domestic helpers coming to Hong Kong should be required to prove they have been vaccinated against measles, two infectious disease experts said on Thursday.
Dr Ho Pak-leung, a top microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong, said the government must do more to make new arrivals prove immunity to the highly infectious disease, as efforts are made to prevent a wider outbreak. The number of cases reported in Hong Kong jumped to 30 on Wednesday – already double the total number for the whole of 2018.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said the Labour Department would contact helper hiring agencies, as well as the city’s Philippine and Indonesian consuls, to promote vaccination among new arrivals.
“We hope to try our best to provide assistance and particularly encourage domestic helpers to get vaccinated before coming to Hong Kong,” Law said.
But Ho called for tougher measures.
