Protect Your Family: Check and Encourage Your Foreign Domestic Helper to Get the Measles Vaccine
Many Hong Kong families hire foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to help care for children or the elderly. Since helpers have close contact with family members, their health and safety are very important. Vaccination schedules differ from country to country, and while FDHs are required to undergo medical exams before arriving in Hong Kong, employers can take extra steps to protect their families. Here's some important information about measles vaccines for FDHs.
Complications of Measles & Vaccination for Hong Kong Children
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) encourages FDHs to get the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can infect anyone without immunity, especially infants. Symptoms include fever and a red rash lasting 1–2 weeks, but serious complications like ear infections, pneumonia, brain damage, or even death can occur.
Vaccination is the most effective prevention. In Hong Kong, children are vaccinated at 18 months and again in Primary One under the government program.
Measles in Southeast Asia
CHP has warned that some FDHs may not have been vaccinated for measles before arriving in Hong Kong. If infected, they could spread the disease to employers, family members, and others.
Measles remains common in many parts of the world, including Southeast Asia. In 2018, the Philippines reported 18,407 measles cases. The annual incidence rates in Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Indonesia were much higher than Hong Kong, at 86.4, 81.0, 47.9, and 16.9 cases per million people, respectively.
Prevention Tips
1) Pre-Employment Medical Checkup - Some employment agencies include a health screening for FDHs before they start work. Employers can request that immunity checks and MMR vaccination be added to the pre-employment medical exam.
2) Vaccination During Holidays - If your FDH plans to visit their home country during holidays, encourage them to get vaccinated for measles before returning to Hong Kong.
MMR Vaccine in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, single-dose measles vaccines are unavailable. Instead, the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and rubella) is used, offering protection against all three diseases.
Who Pays for Medical Costs?
Under the Standard Employment Contract, employers must cover the medical expenses if a FDH contracts measles in Hong Kong. Without insurance, these costs can become expensive.
To avoid high costs and protect your family, purchase a comprehensive insurance policy for your FDH. Remember, prevention is always better than treatment! If you’d like to learn more about MMR vaccines, including costs and service providers, search online for "MMR Vaccine Hong Kong" to find a list of clinics offering this service.
Related product:
California Insurance's latest foreign domestic helper insurance offers the highest coverage in Hong Kong with up to HK$88,000 coverage for hospitalization and surgical expenses. It also provides “New Starter Benefit” that offers probationary protection and “Open Cover” policy reservations for up to 365 days. Learn more or apply now.
The information provided in this article is for general reference only and should not be considered as any form of advice. Our company assumes no responsibility for its use
