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Rachel Leung

Martin Choi

Hong Kong health authorities have tightened the requirements for their airport vaccination service against measles after blood tests found almost 90 per cent of airport staff were immune to the highly contagious disease.
The Centre for Health Protection came up with the new vaccination strategy to cope with the rising number of infections in the city, with most cases identified at the airport, where some 70,000 people work.
The centre carried out blood tests for 100 airport workers starting from last Friday, after the two vaccination stations at the airport were met with long queues and frustration every day.
Some airport workers said they still wanted a jab, even though they had already been vaccinated.
Test results released on Sunday showed only six of the 100 workers tested were not immune, while the results of eight others were deemed indeterminate.
That means the government might only need 9,800 vaccines for the 70,000 workers, if that ratio applies across the board. However, some 6,000 vaccines have been issued over the past week.
Explainer | Measles: a highly infectious disease returning to Hong Kong
Further analysis also found those born before 1967 were 100 per cent immune to the disease. For those who were born in or after 1967, 85 per cent had received one or more doses of the vaccine.
“I can ensure you that for every 100 people that go to the station for vaccination, 86 don’t need it, so I really want to stress that there’s no need to panic and worry,” said Dr Yuen Kwok-yung, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong.
“I hope airport staff don’t go rushing for vaccinations because of the shortage of vaccines. We may run out if everyone, vaccinated or not, goes to the station for the jabs.”

In view of the blood test findings, the centre will now only prioritise airport workers who are born in or after 1967 who have not previously been vaccinated or had the disease. Also, they must be living with someone who is pregnant, or have children under the age of one.
Those who have laboratory evidence of testing negative for the measles antibody are also eligible.
Head of the centre Dr Wong Ka-hing said that from Monday to Thursday, 500 measles jabs would be provided every day to the airport workers deemed to be high risk, and those eligible would need to provide proof at the station.
As of Sunday, Hong Kong had recorded a total of 34 cases this year, 14 of which involved airport and airline staff. The latest case involves a 23-year-old airport security guard, who developed symptoms last Thursday and had travelled to Shenzhen during the incubation period.
I hope airport staff don’t go rushing for vaccination because of the shortage of vaccines
Dr Yuen Kwok-yung, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific said it would offer priority immunisation checks for pregnant employees and has urged them to stay at home, after complaints from staff that the airline wasn’t doing enough to safeguard against the measles outbreak.
A group of pregnant flight attendants had threatened on Saturday to all take sick leave from Monday if the carrier did not step up precautionary measures for its employees.
On Sunday, an airline spokeswoman said the company understood the women’s concerns, and advised them to see a doctor and follow their advice if they were worried about their immunisation status or possible exposure.
“We have also arranged priority immunisation checks for these employees, and if they are found to be non-immune, they should continue to stay home,” the spokeswoman said.


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Measles outbreak

Six out of 100 Hong Kong airport workers found to be in danger of catching measles as health authorities tighten controls around vaccination service

Chair professor of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, Dr Yuen Kwok-yung and Centre for Health Protection head Dr Wong Ka-hing at the presser. Photo: Rachel Leung

The Centre for Health Protection has come up with a new vaccination strategy to cope with the rising number of infections in the city. Photo: David Wong

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Centre for Health Protection adopts new strategy after results of blood tests come back
Numbers mean it may only need 9,800 doses of vaccine for 70,000 people that work in airport


Centre for Health Protection tightens controls around vaccination service after results of blood tests come back showing it may only need 9,800 doses of vaccine.


Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Disease

Hong Kong International Airport

Six out of 100 Hong Kong airport workers found to be in danger of catching measles as health authorities tighten controls around vaccination service

Centre for Health Protection adopts new strategy after results of blood tests come back Numbers mean it may only need 9,800 doses of vaccine for 70,000 people that work in airport

Centre for Health Protection adopts new strategy after results of blood tests come back

Numbers mean it may only need 9,800 doses of vaccine for 70,000 people that work in airport