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Karen Zhang

The tightened rules for the administration of the measles vaccine to Hong Kong airport workers were criticised on Monday, with many who queued in the hope of being immunised turned away.
The development came on the same day it was confirmed two more airport staff members had been infected.
That brought the number of measles cases in the city to 36 for the year, of which 16 involved people who work at the airport. There were only 15 measles cases in 2018.
Among the new cases was a 24-year-old woman who, according to the Centre for Health Protection, had been vaccinated twice. A 37-year-old man who also contracted the disease could not tell health officials if he had received the injections in the past.




The centre said the woman had travelled to Shenzhen during the incubation period, while the man had no relevant travel history. Both are listed as being in a stable condition.
On Sunday, authorities said they would tighten the rules to prioritise who among the 70,000 people working at the airport would be vaccinated, after blood tests found almost 90 per cent of the staff had previously been immunised.
Only airport workers who were born in or after 1967, had not previously received two doses of vaccination or had the disease would be vaccinated. 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.
The daily quota of the vaccination has been reduced to 500 doses from about 1,300 doses, while 100 slots have been set aside to conduct blood tests.
But on Monday, 144 out of 360 doses prepared for vaccination slots in the morning and afternoon had been used, while only 15 blood samples were taken, according to the centre.
Li Wing-foo, vice-chairman of the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines, said the unused vaccines were a waste that could have been used for those in need, and he expected fewer people would be vaccinated on Monday evening.
Pregnant Cathay staff threaten to take sick leave after 33rd measles case
He cited the case of an airline employee who had been in direct contact with an infected pilot in March, when the pilot was already sick.
According to Li, the male employee had previously only had one dose of a vaccine, but he was rejected for a vaccination or any blood test on Monday after coming back from a holiday. Li said he got about 10 complaints from staff who claimed to have had only one dose.

“I think the arrangement should be more flexible,” he said. “Cases like his should be considered if there are still available doses.”
Daniel Ho, a 45-year-old airport hotel worker, and the father of a two-year-old child, was also among those rejected. He could not remember if he had been vaccinated before.
“This is ridiculous,” Ho said. “How many workers have a pregnant wife or a child under one? I bet more than 90 per cent are not eligible.
“I would not be worried if I were single. My wife and I are really concerned about affecting our child,” Ho said, noting that his wife could not get vaccinated either because of a shortage of the drug in private clinics.
Candy Yeung, a flight attendant, went to the station for a vaccination because the level of antibodies in her system was relatively low, according to her last health check.
“I thought they would let me get vaccinated if they saw that my antibody level was low,” she said. “But they would not do that, or do any check unless I had the laboratory testing report showing that I was negative for the antibody.”
Six out of 100 Hong Kong airport workers in danger of catching measles
Yeung said that even if she did the laboratory test now, it would take around a week to get the results. “I would not make it for this time,” she said.
Another four airport workers who failed to get jabs expressed concern, and said they did not remember if they had been vaccinated in the past. All their jobs required them to be exposed to a lot of people every day.
“I don’t mind them taking blood tests. But they would not do that because I didn’t fit all the requirements,” Ming Lee, an airport cleaner, said.

However, 44-year-old Alex Mora, a pilot at Hong Kong Express, was happy to finally get a jab after three days of trying. His wife is pregnant, and their son is 1½.
Mora was frustrated by the amount of time it took to get vaccinated, and questioned why most of the available injections had been given to younger members of staff.
“I understand that people are scared,” he said. “But many [who were vaccinated] are young people who already had two shots. They are well protected.”
A spokesman for the Hospital Authority said 364 staff members had been vaccinated on Monday, the first day the authority had offered jabs to frontline staff.
In the first phase, vaccinations are provided to those working in high-risk departments, such as paediatric, obstetrics and gynaecology, intensive care units and isolation wards.


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Measles outbreak

Frustration builds for Hong Kong airport workers denied measles vaccine over tightened health authority guidelines

Airport staffs queue up for the measles vaccination at the airport. Airport staff complained about confusion over measles vaccination arrangment by the Centre of Health Protection 01APR19 SCMP/Felix Wong

Airport workers queue for the measles vaccination on Monday. Some airport employees complained of confusion over the vaccination campaign set up by the Centre of Health Protection. Photo: Felix Wong

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

Measles: a highly infectious disease previously brought under control but now appearing to be making a comeback in Hong Kong

Staff at Hong Kong International Airport wearing face masks amid an outbreak of measles, which has affected a number of people working at the airport. Photo: Dickson Lee

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung (of University of Hong Kong) poses for a portrait at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, during an interview regarding the 15th anniversary of SARS. 08MAR18 SCMP / Winson Wong

K7EE30 Measles virus particle, computer illustration. This virus, from the Morbillivirus group of viruses, consists of an RNA (ribonucleic acid) core surrounded by an envelope studded with surface proteins haemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion protein, which are used to attach to and penetrate a host cell. Measles is a highly infectious itchy rash with a fever. It mainly affects children, and one attack usually gives life-long immunity.

Staff at the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok wears surgical face masks as an outbreak of measles has infected three workers at the city’s airport.

Director of University of Hong Kong Infection and Contagious Disease, Dr. Ho Pak-leung attends the Commercial Radio programme in Kowloon Tong and talks about flu and vaccine. 10FEB18 SCMP / Edward Wong

(L-R): Consultant Community Medicine (Communicable Disease) from Surveillance and Epidemology Branch under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr. S K Chuang; Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr. Wong Ka-hing; and Head of Programme Management & Professional Development Branch under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr. Liza To hold a press conference at the Hospital Authority Building in Mong Kok. 18JAN19 SCMP / Winson Wong

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Two more airport staff members infected, taking total for year in city to 36
One, a 24-year-old woman, was reported to have received two doses of vaccine


Two more airport staff members infected, including 24-year-old woman who was reported to have been immunised, taking total for year in city to 36.


Hong Kong International Airport

Disease

Frustration builds for Hong Kong airport workers denied measles vaccine over tightened health authority guidelines

Two more airport staff members infected, taking total for year in city to 36 One, a 24-year-old woman, was reported to have received two doses of vaccine

Two more airport staff members infected, taking total for year in city to 36

One, a 24-year-old woman, was reported to have received two doses of vaccine