The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 23) announced that from next Monday (August 26) to November 15, eligible foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) working in Hong Kong can visit designated private clinics and group/outreach vaccination venues to receive free measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination under the Measles Vaccination Mop-up Programme 2019.
 
     The CHP earlier announced that as a public health strategy to prevent and control measles, a one-off mop-up programme has been launched to provide free MMR vaccination to specific target groups including FDHs with the aim of boosting the community's herd immunity against measles.
 
     Persons with laboratory evidence of immunity (i.e. tested positive for measles immunoglobulin G) do not require MMR vaccination. Foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong who do not have laboratory evidence of immunity and fulfil the following criteria are eligible for free MMR vaccination:
(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination before, and did not have laboratory confirmed measles infection; or
(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing non-immune to measles (i.e. tested negative/indeterminate for measles immunoglobulin G).
 
     Measles vaccination for FDHs will be provided at designated clinics and group/outreach vaccination venues by private medical organisations engaged by the DH. Eligible FDHs are required to make prior booking for the vaccination and bring their employment contract/working visa and Hong Kong identity card/passport to their vaccination appointment. Details of the clinics and group/outreach vaccination venues can be found on the programme webpage at www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102004.html.
 
     Vaccination will be carried out in phases for receiving the first and second doses of the MMR vaccines. Details of the arrangements will be announced on the programme webpage.
 
     Under the mop-up programme, measles vaccination has also been given to other target groups including airport workers, healthcare workers and tour escorts or tourist guides. The CHP will continue to communicate and work closely with relevant parties on the arrangements.

Ends/Friday, August 23, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:45

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